Section of the article "Women, Hormones Metabolism & Energy Expenditure" by Len Kravitz, PhD, Afton Cazares, MA, Christine Mermier, PhDEnergy Regulation, Hormonal Influences and Carbohydrate Metabolism A major role of carbohydrate metabolism in a resting state is to maintain a constant supply of glucose to the brain. Carbohydrate in the form of glucose traveling in the bloodstream is the fuel that powers the brain. Glucose is the only fuel that brain cells normally use.Neurons, the cells that send bioelectric messages to one another, have a large demand for glucose because these cells are always in a state of metabolic activity. Even during sleep, neurons are at work repairing and rebuilding their structural components. Because neurons cannot store glucose, they depend on a constant supply of this precious fuel. From a health standpoint, repeatedly overloading the bloodstream with sugar (e.g., by consuming too many soft drinks) places extra demand on the pancreas to keep secreting more insulin. This condition, where excess levels of insulin are circulating in the blood, is called hyperinsulinemia, and it may lead to insulin resistance (Alemany 2011). Insulin resistance is a condition in which normal amounts of insulin are inadequate for transferring blood glucose into cells, and the risk of type 2 diabetes progressively increases. The energy needs of the muscle are what primarily determine how quickly and in what quantity carbohydrates (glucose and glycogen, the stored form of glucose in the liver and muscle) are used during rest and exercise. Blood glucose and muscle glycogen are essential for vigorous and prolonged strenuous exercise. Development of hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) and muscle glycogen depletion highly influence exhaustion during exercise.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Jul 2013 01:23:51 +0000
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