Ketone bodies: causes and effects

Ketone bodies are the name of three compounds(beta-hydroxybutyric acid, acetone and acetoacetic acid). Under normal conditions, these substances are in the body in small doses, are excreted in the urine and are not detected in the analysis. However, this applies to the situation when all processes are normal. It is in standard situations that ketone bodies are destroyed quickly enough. But with increased lipid metabolism, the rate of formation of these compounds exceeds the rate of their destruction. This type of metabolic disorder is called ketosis. If ketone bodies accumulate in a significant amount in a child, then acidification of the blood occurs, which is called ketoacidosis.

If the ketone bodies in the urine of children are observed inthere may be several reasons for this. First of all, it is caused by a deficiency of glucose, as a result of which active consumption of fatty deposits begins. In order for lipid breakdown to be complete, oxaloacetic acid is needed, which can be obtained by splitting glucose. Since the body can not produce it in sufficient doses, another process of fat splitting activates, which causes the formation of a large number of ketone bodies released during respiration and urine.

Ketone bodies can appear as a result of the development of pathological processes that are accompanied by a deficiency of glucose:

1. Decompensated diabetes mellitus.
2. Fasting.
3. Eating food that contains low amounts of carbohydrates.
4. Development of infectious processes of high severity.
5. Comatose conditions.
6. Diseases of Girke.
7. Diseases caused by an increase in the level of corticosteroids.
8. Thyrotoxicosis.

The fact is that the amount of glucose stores inthe infant's liver is very small, because a strong energy expenditure leads to the fact that ketone bodies increase in their numbers much faster than it does in adults.

Since the number of ketone bodies in normalthe conditions are very small, the usual urine analysis can not reveal them. When a large amount of these compounds accumulates in the urine, reactions during the analysis become positive, ketonuria develops, which in medicine is considered pathology.

Ketone bodies in the urine during pregnancy, asrule, appear due to certain disruptions in the work of the body. So, this can be the cause of the violation of carbohydrate metabolism, as well as the exchange of fats and proteins. Also, this situation can be caused by early toxicosis, which as a result of improper treatment can cause complications during pregnancy. Ketone bodies poison the body, that's why so many problems appear.

Very often ketone bodies in the urine of a pregnant womanwomen are the result of a sharp loss of weight, as well as metabolic disorders, malnutrition and malfunction of the liver. That is why a future mother is assigned a biochemical blood test to correctly diagnose the cause.

Remember that the appearance of ketone bodies becomesa consequence of oxidative processes. This chemical reaction occurs because these bodies consist of acetone. Therefore, during the entire period of pregnancy, you must constantly monitor the diet, not to use those products that can harm your child or you.

However, after reading the resultsAnalyzes in which ketone bodies exceed the norm should not panic. Sometimes some changes of this kind can cause a diet or use of drugs of a certain group. Therefore, doctors prescribe in this case a repeated urine test.