What happens to the body during starvation?

• A. During starvation the body begins to use fat as the predominant energy source leading to increased ketone production with a resulting euphoria
• B. The body relies on stored carbohydrates first
• C. Protein becomes the main energy source with ketosis
• D. Ketone production decreases during starvation

Answer: (A)

During starvation the body shifts its energy source from glucose to fat. Once liver glycogen is depleted, fat stores are broken down into fatty acids, and the liver converts many of these fatty acids into ketone bodies. These ketones become a major fuel for many tissues, including the brain, which helps spare muscle protein from being used for glucose. This adaptation explains why fat becomes the predominant energy source and ketone production increases during prolonged fasting. The notion of euphoria isn’t a typical hallmark of ketosis, and the other scenarios don’t reflect the usual metabolic shift: stored carbohydrates are used up early, protein isn’t the main energy source initially, and ketone production rises rather than decreases.