Final answer:
Ketones may be detectable in the blood before reaching readily detectable levels in the urine. Ketones are a byproduct of fat metabolism, and their accumulation in the blood can lead to a condition called ketoacidosis. The smell of acetone, one of the ketone bodies, can be detected in the breath of individuals with ketosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ketones may be detectable in the blood before reaching readily detectable levels in the urine.
Ketones are byproducts of fat metabolism and their accumulation in the blood lowers the blood pH, leading to a condition called ketoacidosis. In ketosis, the concentration of ketone bodies in the blood is between 0.5 to 3.0 mmol/L, while in ketoacidosis, it may go above 10 mmol/L.
The smell of acetone, which is one of the ketone bodies, is detectable in the breath of individuals suffering from ketosis. However, ketones are first detectable in the blood before being excreted in the urine.