Gastrointestinal Diseases NCLEX Review Questions Related

Review Gastrointestinal Diseases NCLEX Review Questions related questions and content

What is the fate of any excess glucose that goes to the liver that is not required for energy and not stored as glycogen?

  • A. it is converted into fat
  • B. it is converted into protein
  • C. it is immediately released back into the bloodstream
  • D. it is degraded
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: it is converted into fat. Excess glucose not needed for immediate energy or stored as glycogen is converted into fat through a process called de novo lipogenesis in the liver. This occurs when glucose levels are high and glycogen stores are full. The liver converts the excess glucose into fatty acids and then into triglycerides for storage in adipose tissue. This process helps regulate blood glucose levels and prevents hyperglycemia.

Other choices are incorrect:
B: Glucose is not directly converted into protein. Proteins are synthesized from amino acids, not glucose.
C: Releasing excess glucose back into the bloodstream would lead to high blood sugar levels, which is not a typical physiological response.
D: Glucose is not simply degraded; it is either used for energy, stored as glycogen, or converted into fat when in excess.