Brain and Energy

An article by Pierre J. Magistretti et al entitled "Brain Energy Metabolism" begins with the following statement: Glucose is the obligatory energy substrate for brain and it is almost entirely oxidized into CO2 and H2O. This simple statement summarizes (with few exceptions) over four decades of careful studies of brain energy metabolism. Although your brain represents only 2% of your body weight on average, the brain:


1. Receives 15% of the cardiac output

2. Uses 20% of the total body oxygen consumption

3. Responsible for 25% of total body glucose utilization

4. Extracts about 50% of oxygen and 10% of glucose from the arterial blood