Fundamentals of Food Technology

Metabolism of carbohydrates

• Glucose, galactose and fructose absorbed in the intestines pass through the portal circulation to the liver. In the liver a part of the glucose and the entire galactose and fructose are converted into the general circulation and to the various tissues for being oxidized and used as energy. A small part of glucose is stored in liver and muscle as glycogen and some portion of the glucose is converted into fat stored in adipose tissue. The oxidation of glucose in the issues occurs into 2 stages as indicated below:-

 

• The first stage is called glycolysis. The oxidation of pyruvic acid takes place through a series of reactions known as tricarboxylic acid cycle (Kreb’s cycle)

 

Regulation of blood sugar

• If the blood glucose level reaches above 180 mg/100 ml (renal threshold level) glucose is excreted in urine. This condition is known as diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus

• It is a chronic disease in which blood glucose level is raised above 180 mg per 100 ml of blood and glucose is excreted in urine. This disease is primarily due to the insufficient production of the hormone insulin by the beta cells of the islets of langerhans of the pancreas.