Quantifying endogenous and tracer-derived ketone bodies using a dual-label UHPLC-MS/MS method

Acetoacetate (AcAc) and β-hydroxybutyrate (βOHB) are ketone bodies involved in energy metabolism, particularly during physiological states of glucose scarcity, such as fasting, exercise, and the implementation of a ketogenic diet. The production (ketogenesis) and utilization (ketolysis) of ketone bodies are dynamic processes that can be quantified using stable isotope-labeled tracers in metabolic tracing studies, necessitating precise and sensitive analytical methods for accurately measuring both labeled and unlabeled pools. Although UHPLC-MS/MS has recently emerged as a reliable tool for quantifying ketone bodies, its dependence on ¹³C-labeled internal standards limits its utility in ¹³C-based tracer studies. AcAc, in particular, poses challenges due to its chemical instability and the scarcity of authentic, stable, isotopically labeled internal standards. While the chemical reduction of AcAc to βOHB provides a solution, this necessitates a cumbersome desalting step. To overcome these limitations, we developed a novel approach using deuterated AcAc (d₃-AcAc) and [3,4,4,4-d₄]βOHB as internal standards for the simultaneous quantification of ¹³C-labeled and unlabeled ketone bodies in biological samples. We optimized the synthesis of AcAc from ethyl-AcAc via base-catalyzed hydrolysis, achieving 99.2 ± 0.2 % purity at 60 °C for 3 h, as confirmed by ¹H NMR. Stability assessments in the extraction buffer and post-extraction serum samples confirmed the robustness of newly synthesized d₃-AcAc for at least 5 h. A comparative analysis against the labor-intensive conventional method demonstrated superior precision, accuracy, and ease of application, enabling high-throughput metabolic and clinical studies. The optimized UHPLC-MS/MS method substantially improves metabolic tracing capabilities, enabling rapid and accurate investigation of ketone body tracing studies across various physiological and pathological conditions.