Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

What happens to excess carbohydrates in the body?

1. They are converted into proteins

2. They are stored as fatty acids

3. They are eliminated from the body

4. They are transformed into glucose

The correct answer is: They are stored as fatty acids

Excess carbohydrates in the body are primarily converted into fatty acids for storage. When the intake of carbohydrates exceeds the energy needs of the body, the liver and muscles first store some of this excess in the form of glycogen. However, once glycogen stores are full, the surplus carbohydrates are then converted through a process called lipogenesis into fatty acids, which can be stored in adipose tissue for later use. This process is the body's way of ensuring that any excess energy can be stored for future energy needs. While proteins and glucose play important roles in the body's metabolism, carbohydrates do not directly convert to proteins, nor are they eliminated, as the body efficiently processes excess carbohydrates into a form that can be stored. Transforming them directly into glucose is not the primary pathway when dealing with excess; rather, glucose is the end product of carbohydrate digestion and is utilized for immediate energy needs before any excess is converted to fatty acids.