Question:
During starvation, muscle primarily uses which fuel?
During starvation, muscle primarily uses which fuel?
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Muscle burns fat to spare glucose for the brain.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
- Fatty acids
- Ketone bodies
- Glucose
- Proteins
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The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: In starvation, blood glucose falls and the body shifts to fat as the main energy source. Adipose tissue releases free fatty acids into the circulation.
Step 2: Skeletal muscle readily takes up and beta-oxidises these free fatty acids for ATP. This spares glucose for the brain and red blood cells, which is a central metabolic priority during fasting.
Step 3: Therefore the predominant fuel for resting muscle in starvation is fatty acids, making option a correct.
Step 4: Ketone bodies are used by muscle early in starvation but in prolonged starvation the brain increasingly uses ketones while muscle relies mainly on fatty acids. Muscle minimises glucose use to conserve it, and protein breakdown is curtailed to preserve lean mass, so the other options are not the primary fuel.
Step 2: Skeletal muscle readily takes up and beta-oxidises these free fatty acids for ATP. This spares glucose for the brain and red blood cells, which is a central metabolic priority during fasting.
Step 3: Therefore the predominant fuel for resting muscle in starvation is fatty acids, making option a correct.
Step 4: Ketone bodies are used by muscle early in starvation but in prolonged starvation the brain increasingly uses ketones while muscle relies mainly on fatty acids. Muscle minimises glucose use to conserve it, and protein breakdown is curtailed to preserve lean mass, so the other options are not the primary fuel.
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