Abstract

ACETONE, THE THIRD KETONE BODY. I. PRESENCE IN THE HUMAN BODY IN HEALTH AND DISEASE

José D. Méndez*

Abstract

Acetone is the simplest of ketones, it is a colorless and flammable liquid, with a somewhat pungent and aromatic smell. Because of its polar character, it is easily mixed with water, ether, methanol, ethanol, and esters. In the industry acetone is mainly used as a solvent for cellulose acetate, nitrocellulose, and acetylene and as a raw material for the synthesis of various organic products such as acetic anhydride, mesityl oxide and methyl isobutyl ketone. Initially it was obtained by distillation from some organic materials or by chemical synthesis. Then it was obtained by fermentation using melase and different microorganisms including Clostridium acetobutylicum. It is currently produced from petroleum derivatives. In the human body acetone is produced by lipid metabolism, specifically by decarboxylation of acetoacetate and is exhaled during respiration. Its presence has been controversial, while some authors consider it waste material others consider it a useful marker in the diagnosis of diabetes when its exhalation is excessive. The curiosity to know its effects on the body has led some researchers to inhale its vapors and others to ingest it. Acetone is toxic and the toxicity depends on the time and amount inhaled but also on the physiological conditions of each organism. The use of acetone as a precursor of gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis has been documented with the use of radioisotopes. In recent years, their involvement in glycation of human albumin and hemoglobin, as well as brain aminophospholipids, has been reported and, consequently, their possible association with the development of chronic complications of diabetes mellitus. On the other hand, isopropyl alcohol, its primary metabolite, has been proposed as marker of ketoacidosis. This alcohol is also the precursor of methylglyoxal, a highly reactive dicarbonyl compound with biomolecules containing amino groups leading to the formation of advanced glycation end products. The last compounds are related not only to the development of diabetes mellitus but also to its complications.

Keywords: Acetone, Diabetes Mellitus, Isopropyl Alcohol, Ketoacidosis, Methylglyoxal, Toxicity, Glycation, Advanced Glycation end Products, Chronic Complications.