[Year]

Metabolism of Major Nutrients in

MiNAHIL SAfdar
2023-Mphil-1173

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 Metabolism of Major Nutrients in Fed and Fast Condition
In the fed state, the body utilizes the dietary components to replenish and augment glycogen
and fat stores in the body. Excessive carbohydrate is also converted to lipid in the liver and
stored along with the excessive the major fuel storage depot. During fasting, the body
transitions to utilizing alternative fuels for energy as a means of maintaining blood fuel
homeostasis. The primary fuel sources during fasting are glycogen, lipid, and amino acid.
The liver plays a crucial role in the maintenance of blood glucose during the first 24 hours of
a fast, and after fasting for around 24 hours, glycogen stores are depleted, causing the body to
utilize energy stores from adipose tissue and muscle. The liver will primarily release glucose
using both gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis for the body's energy needs. Amino acids are
metabolized based on their category, and only the liver can degrade all amino acids.
Glucogenic amino acids are made into Krebs cycle intermediates or pyruvate.

Metabolism of Fed Condition: Fast Condition:

Major
Nutrients During the fed state, which
occurs after eating a meal, the
body's primary goal is to utilize
and store nutrients.
During fasting, the body transitions
to using stored energy reserves. This
typically occurs between meals or
during prolonged periods without
food intake.

Carbohydrates  Ingested carbohydrates are  Gluconeogenesis: synthesizes

broken down into glucose.
 Elevated blood glucose
stimulates insulin release
from the pancreas.
 Insulin promotes glucose
uptake by cells for energy
or storage as glycogen in
the liver and muscles.
 Oxidizes pyruvate to
generate NADH and
FADH2
glucose from lactate, pyruvate,
and amino acids
 Glycogen stores in the liver and
muscles are broken down into
glucose.
 Liver produces glucose through
gluconeogenesis.
 Increased reliance on
gluconeogenesis for glucose.
 Once glycogen stores are
depleted, the liver produces
glucose through gluconeogenesis.

Fats  Dietary fats are broken  Adipose tissue releases fatty

down into fatty acids and acids through lipolysis.
glycerol.  Fatty acids are used for energy
 Insulin facilitates the production through beta-
storage of fatty acids in oxidation, generating ketone
adipose tissue as bodies in the liver (ketogenesis).
triglycerides.
 Produces free fatty acids
and transported as VLDL
for fuel storage in
peripheral tissues
Proteins  Proteins are broken down  Amino acids are released through
 into amino acids. protein breakdown (proteolysis).
 Amino acids are utilized for  Amino acids can be converted to
protein synthesis, energy glucose (gluconeogenesis) or
production, or converted to used for energy through various
glucose or fatty acids as metabolic pathways.
needed.

Regulatory  Insulin is predominant,  Insulin levels decrease, glucagon

Hormones promoting nutrient storage. and cortisol increase.
 Insulin inhibits  Glucagon stimulates
gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis and
promotes anabolic gluconeogenesis.
processes.  Ghrelin levels increase, signaling
 Leptin signals satiety and hunger.
regulates energy balance.  Growth hormone release
 Peptide YY (PYY) increases, promoting fat
released, suppressing utilization.
appetite.

Metabolic State  Anabolic state with nutrient  Catabolic state with reliance on
storage. stored energy reserves.

Cellular  Increased protein synthesis  Enhanced autophagy for

Activities and cell growth. recycling cellular components.
 Glycolysis and lipogenesis  Glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis,
are active. and lipolysis prevail.

Physiological  Energy available for  Mobilization of stored energy for

Effects immediate use. prolonged survival.
 Nutrient storage and tissue  Ketosis provides an alternative
repair. energy source.
 Blood glucose levels stable.  Blood glucose levels may
decrease, ketone levels rise.

Transitions Between Fed and Fasted States:

The body dynamically transitions between fed and fasted states to maintain energy balance.
The post-absorptive state, occurring several hours after eating, involves a shift towards using
stored nutrients. As fasting continues, the body increasingly relies on stored fats for energy,
sparing glucose for essential functions like brain metabolism.
Hormones play a crucial role in regulating these metabolic transitions. Insulin is
predominant in the fed state, promoting nutrient storage, while glucagon and other hormones
become more influential during fasting, promoting the release of stored energy. The transition
to utilizing stored energy reserves helps sustain energy needs during periods without food
intake.