Nutrient Absorption in Cells

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• The nutrients that the body needs come from food. These
nutrients are absorbed by the body during
digestion. Digestion is the process by which food is broken
down into simple, soluble compounds in the digestive tract. It
involves mechanical and chemical processes.

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• Mechanical Process - During the mechanical process, the food is
broken down into small particles that are mixed with the digestive
juices. This process starts in the mouth and continues into the
stomach.
• Chemical Process - During the chemical process, also known
as hydrolysis, digestive enzyme changes food particles into soluble
forms that can be easily absorbed. For example, enzymes change
carbohydrates into simple sugars, proteins into amino acids, and
fats into fatty acids and glycerol. The chemical process starts in the
mouth and continues into the small intestine.

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• After the food undergoes mechanical and chemical processes,
the nutrients are absorbed in the small intestine and into the
bloodstream. Then they are passed to different cells where
they are used in metabolic processes. For instance, the liver
cells contain enzymes which use the nutrients to form complex
molecules.

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• Absorption is the passage of nutrients through the intestinal
walls and into the blood. The primary site of absorption is
the small intestine.

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• The villi, which are tiny finger-like projections, trap the
nutrients which are taken in by the adjacent cells.
The capillaries, tiny blood vessels contained in the villi, serve
as the passageway for the nutrients to reach the general blood
circulation. These nutrients are carried by the blood to the
liver and from there, distributed to various organs and tissues.
The body is able to digest and absorb about 90% to 98%
nutrients of a mixed diet.

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• Metabolism is a process that converts absorbed nutrients into
energy needed for repair, growth, and development of
organisms. All types of metabolism happen at the cellular level,
specifically intracellular or inside the cell. When metabolism
results in building new substances, it is called anabolism. If the
nature of metabolism is destructive, it is called catabolism.
Numerous complex biochemical changes occur within the cells
through anabolic and catabolic processes.

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• When the cells in the body need energy, a series of catabolic reactions
occur. Catabolism happens in the mitochondria, which act as a 'furnace'
that burns food energy. The presence of oxygen is necessary for the
release of energy by the cells. The process of combining oxygen to a
molecule is called oxidation.
• The figure below shows what happens to carbohydrates, fats, and
proteins as they undergo catabolic processes. As they undergo digestion
and absorption, soluble forms of food are converted to energy in the
form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is often called the energy
currency molecule of the cells.

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Carbohydrates
• Carbohydrates can be converted to usable energy through
glycolysis. Glycolysis is an anaerobic process (does not require oxygen)
that happens in the cytosol. This process converts glucose into pyruvates
while producing a small amount of energy. After glycolysis, the pyruvates
pass through the cytosol and goes into the mitochondria.
• When the cells need energy, aerobic reactions (require oxygen) occur in
the mitochondria. Each molecule of pyruvate is converted into acetyl-CoA
molecule. The acetyl-CoA enters the Kreb's cycle, which generates ATP.
Overall, the complete breakdown of glucose yields to carbon dioxide,
water, and ATP.

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Fats
• Fats can be converted into energy through beta-oxidation. Triglycerides, the
dietary form of fat, are first broken down into fatty acids and glycerol.
• Fatty acids contain almost all the energy found in triglycerides. Their breakdown
occurs in the mitochondria. To enter the mitochondria, they are first activated
through linking with coenzyme A. Carnitine then transports the activated fatty
acids across the mitochondrial membrane. Once the fatty acids reach the
mitochondria, a process called beta-oxidation strips up the fatty acids and
converts them to molecules of acetyl-CoA. The acetyl-CoA enters the Kreb's cycle.
The complete breakdown of fatty acids yields carbon dioxide, water, and ATP.

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Proteins
• Proteins are not the major sources of energy. However, when there are no
carbohydrates and fats available for energy production, proteins can be the
alternative source. During the starvation state, the body breaks down protein and
extracts the energy needed by the body from the amino acids.
• To use amino acids as a source of energy, they must undergo the process
of deamination. In this process, the amino group (-NH) is stripped off, leaving the
"carbon skeleton". The carbon skeleton is used by the liver to produce energy. The
type of amino acid where the carbon skeleton came from determines whether it
would be converted to pyruvate, acetyl-CoA, ketone body, or other intermediates of
the Kreb's cycle. The breakdown of the amino acid yields urea, carbon dioxide, water,
and ATP.

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 What do you think?
• Bodybuilders consume a lot of protein-rich foods and protein
drinks when they attempt to build muscles. But why do some
of them still gain a lot of fat instead of muscles?

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Key Points
• Absorption is the passage of nutrients through the intestinal walls and into the blood. The primary site of
absorption is the small intestine.
• Absorbed nutrients are carried by the blood to the liver and from there, distributed to various organs and
tissues as needed.
• Metabolism is a process that converts absorbed nutrients into energy needed for repair, growth, and
development of organisms.
• When metabolism results in building new substances, it is called anabolism.
• If the nature of metabolism is destructive or oxidative and release heat and energy, it is called catabolism.
• Glycolysis is an anaerobic process that converts glucose into pyruvates used in the Kreb's cycle to produce
energy.
• Beta-oxidation strips up the fatty acids and converts them to molecules of acetyl-CoA which enters the Kreb's
cycle to complete the extraction of energy from fatty acids.

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