Importance of carbohydrate metabolism in human body

In this report we’ll be discussing about Glucose.

Glucose, is one of a group of carbohydrates known as simple sugars. It has a molecular
formula of C6H12O6. It is a source of energy in cell function and the regulation of its
metabolism is of great importance. Glucose is central to energy consumption. Carbohydrates,
lipids and proteins all ultimately breakdown into glucose, which then serves as the primary
metabolic fuel of mammals and the universal fuel of the foetus. It serves as the major
precursor for the synthesis of different carbohydrates like glycogen ribose and deoxyribose,
galactose, glycolipids, glycoproteins and proteoglycans.At cellular level, most often, glucose
is the final substrate that enters the tissue cells and converts to ATP (adenosine triphosphate).

Fig.1 – Glucose Structure

ATP is the energy currency of the body and is consumed in multiple ways including the
active transport of molecules across cell membranes, contraction of molecules and
performance of mechanical work, synthetic reactions that help to create hormones, cell
membranes and other essential molecules, nerve impulse conduction, cell division and
growth and other physiological functions.
Glucose metabolism involves multiple processes, including glycolysis, gluconeogenesis and
glycogenolysis and glycogenesis. Glycolysis in the liver is a process that involves various
enzymes that encourage glucose catabolism in cells. One enzyme in particular, glucokinase,
allows the liver to sense serum glucose levels and to utilise glucose when serum glucose
levels rise, for example, after eating. During periods of fasting when there is no glucose
consumption, for example, overnight while asleep, the process of gluconeogenesis takes
place. Gluconeogenesis happens when there is glucose synthesis from non carbohydrate
components in the mitochondria of liver cells.
Glycolysis is the most crucial process in releasing energy from glucose, the end products of
which are two molecules of pyruvic acid. It occurs in 10 successive chemical reactions,
leading to a net gain of two ATP molecules from one molecule of glucose. The next step is
the conversion of pyruvic acid to acetyl coenzyme A.This reaction utilises coenzyme A,
releasing two molecules of carbon dioxide and four hydrogen atoms. No ATP forms at this
stage, but the 4 released hydrogen atoms participate in oxidative phosphorylation, later
releasing 6 molecules of ATP. The next step is the breakdown of acetal coenzyme A and
release of energy in the form of ATP in the Krebs cycle or the tricarboxylic acid cycle, taking
place in the cytoplasm of the mitochondrion.

Fig. 2 – Kreb’s Cycle

The importance of glucose metabolism are as follows:

 Glucose is required to provide the precursors for neurotransmitters synthesis and the
ATP to fuel their actions as well as the brain's energy demands. Glucose metabolism
provides the fuel for physiological brain function through the generation of ATP, the
foundation for neuronal and non-neural cellular maintenance, as well as generation of
neurotransmitters.
 Glucose is the main energy source for a human body. The better ballism of glucose
leads to the formation of ATP that provides energy.
 Glycogen is the body's storage form of carbohydrates. It is made-up of many glucose
units linked together. The body can convert glucose to glycogen through metabolism.
This glycogen can be temporarily stored in the liver and skeletal muscles for future
use when energy needs increase.
 If glycogen stores are at maximum capacity, then glycogen can be stored as body fat.
Meaning that carbohydrates consumed in excess of what can be stored as glycogen
can be converted to body fat.
 After a meal, there is a rise in blood glucose levels, which raises insulin secretion
from the pancreas simultaneously. Insulin causes glucose to deposit in the liver as
glycogen then during the next few hours, when blood glucose concentration falls, the
liver releases glucose back into the blood decreasing fluctuations. During severe liver
diseases, it is impossible to maintain blood glucose concentration as the metabolism
of glucose is hampered.
 It helps in cell signalling as glycolipids and glycoproteins that act as determinants of
blood groups
  Also, it helps in surface making of cells, forms a part of nucleic acids like mRNA,
tRNA, ribosome, and genes and so on.
 In a developing foetus, regulated glucose exposure is imperative to normal growth
because glucose is the primary energy form used by the placenta. In late-gestation,
foetal glucose metabolism is essential to the development of skeletal muscles, foetal
liver, foetal heart, adipose tissue. Three components that are crucial to foetal glucose
metabolism are maternal serum glucose concentration, maternal glucose transport to
the placenta, which is impacted by the amount of glucose the foetus uses, and finally,
foetal pancreas insulin production.
 Impaired glucose metabolism may even lead to diseases like diabetes mellitus.

Thus we see how the metabolism of carbohydrates (Glucose) is important in humans.

References:

Holesh, JE, and Martin A. “Physiology, Carbohydrates.” StatPearls. Tresure Island(FL). StatPearls Publishing,
25 Jul 2022.Web. 19 March 2023.

Mergenthaler, Philipp, and Gerald A. Dienel. “Sugar for the brain: the role of glucose in physiological and
pathological brain function.” National Library of Medicine, 20 Aug 2013. Web. 19 March 2023.