{"id":214699,"date":"2025-05-15T08:41:31","date_gmt":"2025-05-15T08:41:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/learnexams.com\/blog\/?p=214699"},"modified":"2025-05-15T08:41:33","modified_gmt":"2025-05-15T08:41:33","slug":"in-life-threatening-starvation-the-kidneys-synthesize-glucose-by","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnexams.com\/blog\/2025\/05\/15\/in-life-threatening-starvation-the-kidneys-synthesize-glucose-by\/","title":{"rendered":"In life-threatening starvation, the kidneys synthesize glucose by"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In life-threatening starvation, the kidneys synthesize glucose by<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Multiple Choice<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">contributing to calcium homeostasis<br>producing uric acid<br>secreting erythropoietin<br>secreting renin<br>deaminating amino acids<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-ast-global-color-1-color\">The Correct Answer and Explanation is:<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Correct Answer: Deaminating amino acids<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Explanation:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In situations of <strong>life-threatening starvation<\/strong>, the body must find alternative energy sources to maintain essential functions, particularly for <strong>organs like the brain<\/strong> that rely heavily on <strong>glucose<\/strong>. During prolonged starvation, the body\u2019s <strong>glycogen stores are depleted<\/strong> within 24 hours, and <strong>gluconeogenesis<\/strong> (the process of generating glucose from non-carbohydrate sources) becomes the primary way to maintain blood glucose levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>kidneys<\/strong> play an important role in gluconeogenesis during prolonged fasting or starvation, <strong>second only to the liver<\/strong>. One of the key processes involved in gluconeogenesis in the kidney is the <strong>deamination of amino acids<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is Deamination?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Deamination<\/strong> is the removal of the <strong>amino group (-NH\u2082)<\/strong> from amino acids. This process occurs in the <strong>liver and kidneys<\/strong>, producing <strong>ammonia<\/strong> (which is then converted to urea and excreted) and a <strong>carbon skeleton<\/strong>. The remaining carbon backbone can then be converted into glucose through the gluconeogenic pathway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The amino acid <strong>alanine<\/strong> can be deaminated and converted into <strong>pyruvate<\/strong>, which then enters the gluconeogenesis pathway to produce glucose.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Glutamine<\/strong>, an abundant amino acid in the bloodstream during starvation, is taken up by the kidneys, deaminated, and used for gluconeogenesis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why is this Critical During Starvation?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During <strong>life-threatening starvation<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Protein catabolism increases<\/strong>, releasing amino acids into circulation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>kidneys increase gluconeogenesis<\/strong> to help sustain blood glucose levels, especially for the <strong>brain and red blood cells<\/strong>, which require glucose.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This helps prevent <strong>hypoglycemia<\/strong> and maintains <strong>acid-base balance<\/strong>, since the kidneys can also excrete the resulting ammonium (NH\u2084\u207a), aiding in <strong>pH regulation<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Contributing to calcium homeostasis<\/strong>: Important but not related to glucose synthesis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Producing uric acid<\/strong>: A waste product of purine metabolism, not involved in glucose production.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Secreting erythropoietin<\/strong>: Stimulates red blood cell production, not gluconeogenesis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Secreting renin<\/strong>: Regulates blood pressure, not glucose synthesis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Conclusion:<\/strong><br>The kidneys contribute to glucose synthesis in starvation by <strong>deaminating amino acids<\/strong>, allowing for the generation of glucose to support vital organs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In life-threatening starvation, the kidneys synthesize glucose by Multiple Choice contributing to calcium homeostasisproducing uric acidsecreting erythropoietinsecreting renindeaminating amino acids The Correct Answer and Explanation is: Correct Answer: Deaminating amino acids Explanation: In situations of life-threatening starvation, the body must find alternative energy sources to maintain essential functions, particularly for organs like the brain that 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