When the rate of synthesis of ketone bodies is more than its utilization, it leads to

The correct option is ketonemia.

To understand why this is the correct answer, let us break down the biochemical concepts step-by-step:
1. What are Ketone Bodies?
Ketone bodies (acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and acetone) are water-soluble molecules produced by the liver from fatty acids during periods of low carbohydrate availability, such as during starvation, prolonged fasting, or low-carbohydrate diets.
2. Synthesis vs. Utilization:
Under normal physiological conditions, the liver synthesizes ketone bodies (ketogenesis) and releases them into the bloodstream. Peripheral tissues (such as the brain, heart, and skeletal muscles) then uptake and utilize these ketone bodies (ketolysis) as an alternative energy source.
3. The Imbalance:
If the rate of synthesis of ketone bodies in the liver exceeds the rate at which the peripheral tissues can utilize them, these molecules begin to build up in the body.
4. Defining the Condition:
The suffix -emia refers to a presence or concentration in the blood. Therefore, an abnormally elevated concentration of ketone bodies in the blood is medically termed ketonemia.

Let us briefly review why the other choices are incorrect:
• Colour blindness: This is a genetic vision impairment and is unrelated to ketone body metabolism.
• Diabetes: While uncontrolled diabetes mellitus can lead to ketonemia (often progressing to diabetic ketoacidosis), diabetes itself is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia due to insulin deficiency or resistance.
• Anaemia: This refers to a reduced number of red blood cells or low hemoglobin concentration, which is unrelated to the rate of ketone body synthesis.