Ketone bodies are an alternative metabolic fuel formed from fatty acids under conditions of glucose deprivation, such as starvation or a very low carbohydrate diet. Ketone body metabolism may have therapeutic value for some neurological conditions including epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease. We have designed several compounds as prodrugs of the ketone body beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB). Our compounds are protected versions of BHB that liberate BHB upon ester hydrolysis, and have the capability to generate additional molar equivalents of BHB by liver oxidation of the cleaved fragments. The ability to make animals ketogenic by administering these compounds will allow the therapeutic value of ketone body metabolism to be determined in experimental animals while on a normal diet.

Synthesis and evaluation of ketone body esters for the treatment of neurological disorders

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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