Question

3. What are the major metabolic changes that take place during prolonged starvation?

Answer 1

Metabolic and hormonal changes help to withstand long periods of starvation in living beings such as humans, animals. The major goal during biochemical changes is to maintain constant blood-glucose levels. The glucose is utilised from the gluconeogenesis of aminoacids occues due to muscle protein breakdown in prolonged starvation period. To minimise the usage of glucose fatty acids and keto bodies are used as fuel to supply to brain. Due to the increased usage of ketone bodies as a fuel, ketones are excreted in large numbers where they are again recovered through renal gluconeogenesis. The reserves of carbohydrates are no longer available after 24 hours of starvation. The decrease in the glucose level and the increase in the growth hormone level was observed during prolonge periods of starvation.