A 30-year-old member asked:
What can cause trace amounts of ketones in the urine?
1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in

Dr. Evan Altmananswered
Psychiatry 21 years experience
Fat breakdown: A common cause of ketone production (ketosis) is fatty acid breakdown. When the body utilizes fats for energy, ketones result and some enter into the urine for excretion. A larger amount of ketones in the urine can occur in starvation, diabetes, and other conditions in which fat and fatty acid breakdown is occuring at a more substantial pace than in the normal metabolic state.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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A 50-year-old member asked:
What could cause someone to have ketones in their urine?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

Dr. Silvia Cuadraanswered
Endocrinology 16 years experience
Ketonuria: Ketonuria indicates that the person is in a catabolic state and is breaking down fat and can occur in anyone who has a negative caloric balance while dieting. However, in the absence of a person purposely trying to restrict calories, the presence of urine ketones along with hyperglycemia is more serious than hyperglycemia alone. Usually used to monitor for ketoacidosis in diabetics that are ill.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
682 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Sep 6, 2017
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