The irreplaceable role of carbohydrates in the diet – glucose is not just a source of energy in metabolism

Czech version

Authors: O. Sobotka ¹; A. Mrózková ²; L. Sobotka ¹
Authors‘ workplace: Univerzita Karlova, Lékařská fakulta a Fakultní nemocnice v Hradci Králové, III. interní gerontometabolická klinika, Vedoucí: prof. MUDr. Vladimír Blaha, CSc. ¹; Univerzita Karlova, Lékařská fakulta v Hradci Králové, Ústav preventivního lékařství, Vedoucí: prof. MUDr. Lenka Borská, Ph. D. ²
Published in: Prakt. Lék. 2024; 104(2): 78-83
Category: Of different specialties

Overview

Currently, glucose is considered as the energy source for the formation of ATP. However, the production of energy in the form of ATP does not represent the basic importance of this carbohydrate. It is non-oxidative metabolism that may be of fundamental importance for the function of glucose in living organisms. Complete oxidation is then of secondary importance and if there is a shortage of glucose in the body, then the lack of glucose for non-oxidative metabolism may be the basis for the insulin resistance. Insulin resistance thus occurs in pathological conditions such as metabolic syndrome, acute and chronic inflammation, but at the same time it can be observed in physiological conditions such as rapid growth, regeneration, pregnancy or lactation. Since glucose is important for anabolic reactions, and not just a source of energy in the form of ATP, it is logical that insulin resistance purposefully reduces its irreversible oxidation; on the contrary, it increases gluconeogenesis and increases glucose cycling. This means that during the above states, the intake of carbohydrates (glucose) should not be reduced even during insulin resistance.

Keywords:

Glucose – insulin resistance – Krebs cycle – aerobic glycolysis – anabolic reactions – Cori cycle

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adresa pro korespondenci:
MUDr. Ondřej Sobotka, PhD.
III. interní gerontometabolická klinika FN
Sokolská 581, 500 05 Hradec Králové
e-mail: SobotkaO@lfhk.cuni.cz

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General Practitioner

2024 Issue 2