Beta hydroxybutyrate

ChemistryAlso known as: B-OH-Butyr 24h Ur QlAlso known as: B-OH-Butyr Bld Strip-sCncAlso known as: B-OH-Butyr Bld-sCncmg/dL

The level of the ketone body beta-hydroxybutyrate in your serum or plasma.

Normal Range

Consult your provider

mg/dL

Abnormal Levels

Consult your provider

Specimen Type

Blood

Why This Biomarker Matters

CSF ketone levels help diagnose metabolic brain disorders and monitor whether ketogenic treatments for seizures or neurological conditions are working effectively.

Overview

Beta-hydroxybutyrate is the predominant ketone body produced when the body burns fat for energy instead of carbohydrates. This test measures its concentration in serum or plasma and is the most reliable marker of ketosis. Elevated levels occur during diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), prolonged fasting, starvation, and ketogenic diets. In the emergency setting, serum beta-hydroxybutyrate is preferred over urine ketone testing for diagnosing and monitoring DKA because it reflects real-time ketone production and responds more quickly to treatment.

Research & Evidence

45 publications

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Chemical Proteomics Identifies Ketogenesis-Mediated Cysteine Modifications Regulating Redox Function.

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl · 2026

PMID: 41546417Other

HMGCS2 desuccinylation modulates acetoacetate to drive tubule-macrophage inflammatory crosstalk in diabetic kidney disease.

Metabolism · 2026

PMID: 41580118Other

β-Hydroxybutyrate improves glymphatic system function and alleviates cerebral edema in mice after ischemic stroke.

Acta Pharmacol Sin · 2026

PMID: 41535708Other

Pharmacokinetic effects of a single dose nutritional ketone ester supplement on brain glucose and ketone metabolism in alcohol use disorder.

Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging · 2026

PMID: 41633023

Effect of glucose on medium chain triglyceride induced ketosis in healthy adults in a randomized, double-blind, controlled study.

Sci Rep · 2026

PMID: 41957196

Nutrient-driven histone acetylation underlies energy storage and mobilization.

Mol Metab · 2026

PMID: 41786244

The mystery of post-mortem Gamma-hydroxybutyrate formation - method development and validation for the detection of endogenous GHB and its related compounds.

Forensic Sci Int · 2026

PMID: 41643246

β-Hydroxybutyrate impairs the functional response of bovine neutrophils to mammary pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus and a TLR2/1 agonist by limiting glucose metabolism.

J Dairy Sci · 2026

PMID: 41651367

Exercise beneficially reshapes fasted rat skeletal muscle involving the combined action of β-hydroxybutyrate and palmitoleic acid.

Am J Physiol Cell Physiol · 2026

PMID: 41740633

Wet-adhesive metabolic hydrogel for osteoimmune-guided extraction socket healing.

Mater Today Bio · 2026

PMID: 41756526

Research data from MEDLINE/PubMed · 45 articles

Technical Information (LOINC Codes)

Standardized laboratory codes for this biomarker

29512-1Primary

Beta hydroxybutyrate [Mass/volume] in Serum or Plasma

mg/dL

6873-4

Beta hydroxybutyrate [Moles/volume] in Serum or Plasma

mmol/L

1946-3

Beta hydroxybutyrate [Mass/volume] in Cerebral spinal fluid

mg/dL

1947-1

Beta hydroxybutyrate [Mass/volume] in Urine

mg/dL

16456-6

Beta hydroxybutyrate [Moles/volume] in Urine

mmol/L

29622-8

Beta hydroxybutyrate [Presence] in Urine

66441-7

Beta hydroxybutyrate [Moles/volume] in Blood by Test strip

mmol/L

104816-4

Beta hydroxybutyrate [Moles/volume] in Blood

mmol/L

43898-6

Beta hydroxybutyrate [Presence] in 24 hour Urine

43923-2

Beta hydroxybutyrate [Presence] in Serum or Plasma

58685-9

Beta hydroxybutyrate [Moles/volume] in Vitreous fluid

mmol/L

16455-8

Beta hydroxybutyrate [Moles/volume] in Cerebral spinal fluid

mmol/L

Available Lab Tests

Order tests that measure this biomarker

beta hydroxybutyrate

Urinary Organic Acids (94 biomarkers)

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