β-Hydroxybutyrate: A Signaling Metabolite.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review synthesizing mechanistic and physiological concepts with no primary human data or systematic review methodology.
PubMed 28826372 · doi:10.1146/annurev-nutr-071816-064916
What was done
This narrative review summarizes existing literature on the physiological and molecular roles of the ketone body beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) in mammals during periods of glucose deprivation, such as prolonged exercise, starvation, or carbohydrate restriction.
What was found
The abstract provides no quantitative data or specific numerical endpoints. It describes BHB's dual function as an essential energetic metabolite synthesized in the liver to supply peripheral tissues, and as an active signaling molecule involved in epigenetic gene regulation and cellular adaptations relevant to aging and disease.
Why it matters
It highlights a paradigm shift viewing ketone bodies not merely as fuel sources during metabolic stress, but as active signaling molecules influencing gene expression and cellular resilience.
Limits
The paper is a non-systematic narrative review lacking empirical data, quantitative synthesis, or clinical intervention outcomes; findings rely on pre-existing mechanistic and preclinical literature.
Cited by
- supports Ketones act as signaling molecules that prompt mitochondria to repair themselves and undergo mitogenesis.