Question

In untreated type 1 diabetes, the hepatocyte\'s citric acid cycle becomes overwhelmed with acetyl-coa from excessive fatty acid oxidation. although the excess acetyl-coa is not toxic, it must be diverted into the formation of ketone bodies: acetone, acetoacetate, and d-β-hydroxybutyrate. what problem would arise if the excess acetyl-coa were not converted to ketone bodies

Answer 1

When the acetyl-CoA produced during β oxidation in the liver exceeds the capacity of the citric acid cycle, the excess acetyl-CoA forms ketone bodies -- acetone, acetoacetate, and D-β-hydroxybutyrate.