[03] Nutrient Metabolism Flashcards
What is the definition of nutrient metabolism?
The biochemical process of breaking down nutrients for energy or using them for growth and repair
What organ is the central hub for nutrient metabolism?
Liver
What is the role of the liver in carbohydrate metabolism?
It regulates blood glucose levels by glycogenesis, glycogenolysis, and gluconeogenesis
What are the three processes the liver uses to manage carbohydrate metabolism?
- Glycogenesis → storing glucose as glycogen
- Glycogenolysis → breaking down glycogen to glucose
- Gluconeogenesis → producing glucose from non-carb sources
How does the liver contribute to protein metabolism?
It deaminates amino acids, forms urea from ammonia, and synthesizes plasma proteins
What is deamination?
The removal of an amino group from an amino acid
What is the significance of urea production in protein metabolism?
Urea, formed from ammonia, is less toxic and can be excreted in the urine
What role does the liver play in lipid metabolism?
It oxidizes triglycerides to produce energy, synthesizes lipoproteins, phospholipids, and cholesterol, and converts excess portions of carbohydrate molecules into triglycerides
What is the main form of fat storage in the body?
Triglycerides
What happens to excess dietary nutrients in the body?
They are converted into and stored as fat
What is the primary energy currency of cells?
ATP (Adenosine triphosphate)
What is the initial metabolic pathway for all macronutrients?
They are all initially broken down into Acetyl CoA
What is the primary metabolic pathway for generating energy?
The citric acid cycle (also known as Krebs cycle or TCA cycle)
What does the electron transport chain do in metabolism?
It generates ATP from products of the citric acid cycle
How is alcohol metabolized in the body?
Mainly in the liver by alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase, producing acetyl CoA
