Beta hydroxybutyrate is a ketone that is found in the human body. This ketone is released when the body is breaking down fat for nutrition. When an individual suffers from starvation, the body needs to burn its fat reserves for energy. This is produced when the body cannot absorb glucose. Glucose is the primary source of energy in the body. When glucose is absorbed, it is distributed around the body. The cells of the body absorb glucose and then use it as the fuel for metabolism. This process produces energy and heat, both of which are used in the body. Energy production is essential for the basic maintenance of life. When there is an insulin deficiency, the body cannot absorb glucose properly. This leads to a situation where the body will have high blood glucose levels. When there is a lack of energy production, fat breakdown takes place through the use of ketones. This further complicates the situation. A condition known as ketoacidosis can occur when the patient has excessively high glucose and ketone levels in his or her blood. This condition is dangerous and could cause many life threatening conditions.
The relationship between beta hydroxybutyrate normal levels and insulin means that there will be an elevation of the beta hydroxybutyrate values in blood tests when an individual is suffering from insulin deficiency diabetes. This form of diabetes is fairly manageable with the individual having to resort to insulin injections to replenish the body’s supply of insulin. This will help avoid the situation mentioned above where the individual experiences ketoacidosis. The condition of elevated beta hydroxybutyrate actually occurs when another ketone is produced in the body. This ketone cannot be metabolized and is hence passed into the blood. Here it converted into beta hydroxybutyrate and acetone. This is why an individual suffering from ketoacidosis will have breath that smells of nail polish remover. This is because nail polish remover also has acetone in it. The smell of acetone itself may be sufficient to suspect ketoacidosis and to test for the level of beta hydroxybutyrate in a blood sample.
The beta hydroxybutyrate normal values are given here. The beta hydroxybutyrate normal values in blood are between 0.21 to 2.8 mg/dl. The beta hydroxybutyrate normal values in serum are less than 3 mg/dl. Any value above these beta hydroxybutyrate normal values is considered to be an elevation which may be diagnostically relevant. Thus keeping a check on the beta hydroxybutyrate normal values is important in the maintenance of good health