Question

If a person did not eat for several days, which sequence of events would occur? Glycogen stores would be depleted first, then structural proteins, and then stored lipids. Lipid stores would be depleted first, then stored glycogen, and then structural proteins. Proteins stores would be depleted first, then stored lipids, and then stored glycogen. Glycogen stores would be depleted first, then stored lipids, and then structural proteins.

Answer 1

Answer:

The correct answer is "Glycogen stores would be depleted first, then stored lipids, and then structural proteins."

Explanation:

When an individual starts starving, the glycogen store is depleted first because that is the storage form of glucose. After depletion of the glycogen, the body then burns fat reserves in the body which are also good sources of calories. After prolonged period of starvation, the body then converts structural proteins (usually in the form of glucogenic amino acids) into fuels for energy.

It should be noted that NOT all the glycogen are used up immediately because the brain cells and the red blood cells prefer energy from glucose and hence the body reserves some glycogen strictly for them.