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Energy Yield of Protein Oxidation

publish date: 2026/06/21 20:08:3.081117 UTC

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Feeding Fats and Proteins into Respiration Fats hydrolysis (+water) Glycerol Fatty acids → PGAL → Acetyl-CoA Proteins hydrolysis Amino acids deamination Glycolysis (PGAL) and Krebs cycle (acetyl-CoA, pyruvate) ATP + CO2 + H2O Fats yield about twice the energy of carbohydrates, gram for gram Proteins yield about the same energy as carbohydrates, gram for gram

Based on the diagram, gram for gram, the complete oxidation of protein yields about how much energy compared to carbohydrates?

Correct Answer

About the same amount of energy

Explanation

Gram for gram, fully oxidizing protein yields roughly the same amount of energy as oxidizing carbohydrates, while fats yield significantly more energy per gram.

Reference

Biology: A self-teaching guide

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