Ketone Body Metabolism in Ascorbic Acid Deficiency

Abstract

The in vitro formation of ketone bodies by liver tissues of ascorbic acid-deficient, and control (pair-fed) guinea pigs was studied. The data revealed that the spontaneous production of ketone bodies by the liver of the ascorbic acid-deficient guinea pig is less than that of the control animal. The capacity of the liver of the deficient guinea pig to form ketone bodies from octanoate exceeds that of control animals. The total fat content and the liver weight are not significantly altered in ascorbic acid-deficiency. The data suggest that the diminished spontaneous production of ketone bodies by the ascorbic acid-deficient liver, in spite of its normal content of fat, might be secondary to a diminished fatty acid formation from endogenous fat. In the presence of fatty acid substrate the formation of ketone bodies by the ascorbic acid-deficient liver is not appreciably disturbed.