Studies on ketone metabolism in man. II. The effect of glucose, insulin, cortisone and hypoglycemia on splanchnic ketone production.

We have previously described a technique which utilizes hepatic venous catheterization for the estimation of net splanchnic ketone body production (NSKP) in man (1). In a series of subjects without metabolic abnormality, a small but significant endogenous NSKP was detected in the postabsorptive state, and upon the intravenous administration of a ketone body precursor, sodium octanoate, the NSKP was increased fivefold. The present report concerns the application of this technique to the study of the effects of glucose, insulin, cortisone and hypoglycemia on ketone body production in man.