Palmitic Acid as a Source of Endogenous Acetate and β-Hydroxybutyrate in Fed and Fasted Ruminants

Abstract

In order to ascertain the endogenous origin of acetate and β-hydroxybutyric acid, specific radioactivities of plasma acetate, β-hydroxybutyrate and palmitate were determined after infusion of 1-¹⁴C-palmitate into fed cows and fed or fasted sheep. Less than 2% of plasma acetate carbon and 5% of β-hydroxybutyrate carbon were derived from palmitate in fed animals, whereas these values were increased to 16 and 29%, respectively, in fasted ruminants. The data support a role for β-oxidation of long-chain fatty acids as a source of endogenous acetate and of β-hydroxybutyrate in ruminants.