Glucose

a. Oxidation to produce energy

1. Major pathways: for energy production
- Glycolysis
- Produces:
- Pyruvate – aerobic condition (no oxygen)
- Lactate – anaerobic condition (with oxygen)
- Kreb’s cycle – pyruvate is converted to active acetate
2. Minor pathways: synthesis for other derivatives
- Hexose monophosphate pathway (HMP) – production of pentoses and NADPH
- Uronic acid pathways
b. Conversion to other substances
- Carbohydrates: ribose (RNA), galactose, and fructose.
- Lipids: glycerol-4 for formation of triacyl glycerides
- Proteins: non-essential amino acids that enter information of proteins
c. Storage of excess glucose
- Glycogenesis – excess glucose stored in the liver as glycogen
- Lipogenesis - covert of glucose to glycerol and fatty acids
- Glycogenolysis – conversion of stored glycogen into glucose to provide immediate energy
d. Excretion in urine

Glucose “blood sugar”

Regulation of blood glucose

- Normal blood glucose

- Random blood sugar: 70 – 140 mg/dL
- Fasting state: 70 – 110 mg/dL
- Postprandial: 100 to 140 mg/dL

Hyperglycemia (high blood glucose) – excessive amount of glucose circulates in the blood plasma (200
mg/dL)

Complications: kidney damage, neurological damage, cardiovascular damage, damage to the retina

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) – blood glucose falls below normal level

Complications: dementia or confusion, falls or fainting, clumsiness, seizures, coma and even death

Hormones involved in the regulation of glucose

a. Pancreatic hormones/glucagon
b. Insulin/anti-diabetogenic hormone – reduce blood glucose levels
c. Diabetogenic/anti-insulin hormone
Sources of blood glucose

1. Dietary carbohydrates – present in sugars, starches, and cellulose (100%)

2. Protein – foods like meat, cheese, and peanut butter, 50-60 of consumed protein will be
converted into glucose
3. Fats – includes butter, salad dressing, avocado, olive oil (10%)
4. Glycogenolysis
5. Gluconeogenesis – formation of new sugar/glucose from non-carbohydrate sources

Metabolic pathways

1. Cellular respiration – conversion of chemical energy from oxygen molecules or nutrients into
ATP

Aerobic cellular respiration – glucose reacts with oxygen to form ATP

Glycolysis, kreb’s cycle

Anaerobic cellular respiration – does not require oxygen to form ATP