An increase in serum acetone is indicative of a defect in the metabolism of:

An increase in serum acetone is indicative of a defect in the metabolism of:

• A. carbohydrates
• B. fats
• C. urea nitrogen
• D. uric acid

Answer: (A)

Ketone bodies rise when carbohydrate metabolism is limited or impaired, so the body shifts to fat breakdown for energy. In the liver, excess acetyl-CoA from fatty acid oxidation is diverted into ketogenesis, producing ketone bodies including acetone, which can accumulate in serum. Therefore an elevated serum acetone points to issues with carbohydrate utilization rather than pathways like urea nitrogen or uric acid metabolism, which don’t drive ketone production.

Ketone bodies rise when carbohydrate metabolism is limited or impaired, so the body shifts to fat breakdown for energy. In the liver, excess acetyl-CoA from fatty acid oxidation is diverted into ketogenesis, producing ketone bodies including acetone, which can accumulate in serum. Therefore an elevated serum acetone points to issues with carbohydrate utilization rather than pathways like urea nitrogen or uric acid metabolism, which don’t drive ketone production.