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6: Macronutrient and Alcohol Metabolism

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    Now that we have digested, taken up, absorbed, and transported the macronutrients, the next step is to learn how these macronutrients are metabolized. Alcohol is also included at the end of this chapter, even though it is not a macronutrient.

    • 6.1: Metabolism Basics
      This page explains metabolism as the chemical processes in living cells, divided into anabolic and catabolic reactions. Anabolic reactions require energy, while catabolic ones release energy, exemplified by glycogen converting to glucose. It discusses oxidation and reduction, focusing on electron transfer. Additionally, it highlights the role of cofactors in enzyme functions, distinguishing between organic (e.g., vitamins) and inorganic (e.g.
    • 6.2: Carbohydrate Metabolism
      There are many metabolic pathways/cycles/processes/reactions that are involved in the synthesis or degradation of carbohydrates and compounds formed from them. Please note that most of these pathways are not specific to carbohydrates only. Gluconeogenesis will be learned about in the protein section, because amino acids are a common substrate used for synthesizing glucose.
    • 6.3: Lipid Metabolism Pathways
      This page covers five lipid metabolic pathways: Lipolysis, Fatty Acid Oxidation, Fatty Acid Activation, De novo Lipogenesis, and Ketone Body Synthesis. It details the breakdown of triglycerides, energy production from fatty acids, synthesis of fatty acids from acetyl-CoA, and ketone production during low glucose.
    • 6.4: Protein Metabolism
      This page covers protein and amino acid metabolism, highlighting four key pathways: transamination, which transfers amine groups; deamination, which removes amine groups and converts them to urea; gluconeogenesis, which produces glucose from amino acids identified as glucogenic or ketogenic; and protein turnover, which involves protein recycling through mechanisms like ubiquitin-proteasome and lysosomal degradation.
    • 6.5: Alcohol Metabolism
      This page discusses the metabolism of ethanol in the liver through three pathways: Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), the microsomal ethanol oxidizing system (MEOS), and catalase. It notes that women metabolize alcohol less efficiently than men due to lower ADH and hydration levels. Additionally, genetic variations in aldose dehydrogenase (ALDH) can affect alcohol tolerance in certain populations, leading to negative reactions from acetaldehyde buildup.

    This page titled 6: Macronutrient and Alcohol Metabolism is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Brian Lindshield via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.