Question

All of the following may cause ketones to be found in the urine EXCEPT .

a. starvation
b. a diet very low in carbohydrates
c. a diet very low in protein
d. diabetes mellitus

Answer 1

Ketones are byproducts of fat metabolism and can be found in the urine when the body is using fat as an energy source. Diabetes mellitus and a diet low in carbohydrates or protein can all cause ketones to be found in the urine.

Step-by-step explanation:

Ketones are byproducts of fat metabolism. Finding ketones in the urine suggests that the body is using fat as an energy source in preference to glucose.

In diabetes mellitus when there is not enough insulin (type I diabetes mellitus) or because of insulin resistance (type II diabetes mellitus), there is plenty of glucose, but without the action of insulin, the cells cannot take it up, so it remains in the bloodstream.

Instead, the cells are forced to use fat as their energy source, and fat consumed at such a level produces excessive ketones as byproducts. These excess ketones will appear in the urine. Ketones may also appear if there is a severe deficiency of proteins or carbohydrates in the diet.

Answer 2

All of the following conditions can cause ketones to be present in urine except for a diet very low in protein. This is because protein deficiency does not lead to increased fat metabolism, which is needed to produce ketones, unlike situations involving carbohydrate restriction or deficiency.

Step-by-step explanation:

Understanding Ketone Presence in Urine

When cells in the body do not receive sufficient carbohydrates, they may increase the rate of fatty acid oxidation to provide energy. This process leads to an increase in the levels of acetyl-CoA, which in turn can lead to an elevated production of ketone bodies in the liver. These excess ketones bodies can accumulate and be excreted in the urine, a condition known as ketosis. Ketone bodies in the urine can be indicative of several conditions, such as starvation, diabetes mellitus, and diets low in carbohydrates, all of which force the body to utilize fat for energy.

However, a diet very low in protein does not directly result in the production of ketone bodies. Protein deficiency does not trigger ketosis because proteins are not a primary energy source like carbohydrates, and their shortage does not lead the body to significantly increase fat metabolism as carbohydrates do.

Therefore, the correct option for the cause that does NOT typically lead to the presence of ketones in urine is a diet very low in protein.