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The gluconeogenesis is the production of glucose from other non-glucidic substances.
This is the process by which the body obtains its needed glucose supplies by making it from protein rather than taking it directly from the blood sugar which is dumped into the bloodstream by the ingestion of sugars or the breakdown of starches.
This is why it has been clinically shown that people can eat more calories on a low carb diet and still lose more weight. It really isn't "calorie in-calorie out." The body uses extra calories to make glucose from protein, while not needing extra calories to make glucose from sugar/starch sources.
Cats, for instance, rely on this process almost exclusively, lacking the enzymes to process carbohydrates, and, in fact, having no taste buds to detect the presence of sugar in their food.
Wiki User
∙ 16y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agovonvert noncarbohydrates to glucose
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How is the reduction of plasma alanine concentration caused by gluconeogenesis?
Alanine is the major gluconeogenic amino acid. Plasma alanine is used to make glucose in the liver (Glucose-Alanine Cycle), and thus when this occurs plasma alanine concentration is decreased.
Are amino acids the building block of sugar?
A better comparison would be that amino acids make up protein similarly to the way that sugar makes up starch. Fat is not composed only of sugars.
How is the reduction of plasma alanine concentration caused by gluconeogenesis?
Alanine is the major gluconeogenic amino acid. Plasma alanine is used to make glucose in the liver (Glucose-Alanine Cycle), and thus when this occurs plasma alanine concentration is decreased.
Which organs is classified as obligate glucose consumer?
The brain and liver are the two main obligate glucose users. The brain can use ketone bodies derived from fatty acid beta-oxidation in severe hypoglycemic states (prolonged starvation) after gluconeogenic and glycogenolic mechanisms have been depleted.
Are amino acids the building block of sugar?
A better comparison would be that amino acids make up protein similarly to the way that sugar makes up starch. Fat is not composed only of sugars.
Why does your body use Muscle tissue for energy?
'coz it does... u got prob??': Yeah, I'm sure that wasn't a particularly enlightening answer...So, I'll have a stab at it below. Muscle tissue, specifically, skeletal muscle, is used for energy during starvation. This is simply because muscle tissue contains a (relatively) great deal of non-essential structural protein, that can be used to provide energy without *immediately* causing death. Amino acids derived from hydrolyzed muscle protein can actually be used as sources of energy. Indeed, amino acids are classified as ketogenic and glucogenic, depending on if they can yield ketone bodies (acetoacetate, 3-hydroxybutarate) and acetyl-CoA or carbohydrate precursors (eg. oxaloacetate; pyruvate), respectively. But what's the energy liberated from muscle tissue used for? Simply, to provide energy for organs more crucial than skeletal muscle, basically the brain. The amino acids from skeletal muscle can be converted to carbohydrate precursors which enter the gluconeogenic pathway, creating new glucose, which the brain can use for energy (brain-and nervous tissue-prefer glucose to all respiratory substrates). In addition, cells and organs without mitochondria, such as red blood cells, the kidney cotex and testes, better known as balls (yeah, that's right: its done for the family jewels too) can ONLY use glucose for energy, as only glucose can be anaerobically respired. In fact, some types of skeletal muscle fibres (type 1/white/fast twitch/glycolytic) too can only use glucose for energy as they have little to no mitochondria. The ketones derived from muscle protein are alternate sources of energy for the brain, kidneys (excluding their cotices, as aforementioned) and...skeletal muscle. So that, in a nutshell, is why the body uses muscle tissue for energy.
