How the exceptional energy demands of the brain are met.

• In addition to glucose, other substrates must be considered along with fuel interactions, metabolic challenges, and cerebral maturation. (1)
• Ketone bodies are major metabolic fuels of the brain of the suckling rat under normal conditions. (2)
• Ketone bodies can represent about 30–70% of the total energy metabolism balance of the immature rat brain.(3)
• Lactate is an important metabolic substrate for the brain...and plays a crucial role in brain development... Once the onset of suckling takes place, however, ketone bodies become the major fuel for brain development.(4)
• 70% of the cerebral metabolic requirements were met by lactate in animals aged 6 days. At 15 days of age, glucose, 3-hydroxybutyrate, and lactate supply 58%, 19%, and 23% of the brain's fuel requirement, respectively.(5)

Sources:

1. Prins, M. L. (2008) J Cereb Blood Flow Metab, 28, 1-16.

2. Hawkins, R. A., Williamson, D. H. and Krebs, H. A. (1971) Biochem J, 122, 13-18.

3. Nehlig, A. (2004) Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids, 70, 265-275.

4. Medina, J. M. and Tabernero, A. (2005) J Neurosci Res, 79, 2-10.

5. Dombrowski, G. J., Jr., Swiatek, K. R. and Chao, K. L. (1989) Neurochem Res, 14, 667-675.