How does the body utilize amino acids for energy?

The body's use of amino acids for energy primarily involves the process of deamination. During deamination, an amino group is removed from the amino acid, resulting in the production of ammonia and a carbon skeleton. This carbon skeleton can then be converted into various metabolic intermediates that enter the Krebs cycle (also known as the citric acid cycle), allowing for ATP production and energy generation.

The significance of this process lies in the fact that amino acids can be transformed into substances like acetyl-CoA or other intermediates, which are crucial for cellular respiration. This enables the body to utilize amino acids as a source of energy when carbohydrate and fat supplies are low, particularly during fasting, intense exercise, or situations where protein intake is high.

While it is possible for some amino acids to be converted into fats (lipogenesis) or into glucose (gluconeogenesis), the direct pathway of deamination leading to the formation of metabolic intermediates is fundamental for energy production. Options related to hydrolyzing amino acids into sugars or retaining them in the bloodstream do not accurately represent the primary energy-utilization pathway for amino acids.