Placental supply of energy and protein substrates to the fetus.
Table 1 shows an approximate metabolic balance sheet for the fetal sheep at late gestation. The metabolic balance in humans has not been determined but is estimated to be similar, except for a greater caloric requirement for fat deposition, adding about 33 kcal/kg/day to the total fetal caloric intake (34). The total fetal metabolic rate accounts for about 58% of caloric uptake. This percentage is close to the sum of the measured oxidation percentages of the principal energy substrates; this discrepancy cannot yet be explained.
Hay
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Division of Perinatal Medicine and Research, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver 80262, USA.
D000085:Acetates / Q000378:metabolism; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D005632:Fructose / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007773:Lactates / Q000378:metabolism*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy
D000085:Acetates; D000596:Amino Acids; D007773:Lactates; D005632:Fructose; D005947:Glucose