A novel ketogenic compound is provided having general formula (R(OCH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2C(O)).sub.nO).sub.m-A wherein n is a integer between 1 and 10, m is an integer of 1 to 200,000, A is a monsaccharide, polysaccharide or oligosaccharide residue and R is selected from the group consisting of H, C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl and acetoacetyl-.