Which process is accelerated during the hypermetabolic state following a burn injury?

Following a burn injury, the body enters a hypermetabolic state, which is characterized by an increased metabolism to meet the heightened energy and nutrient demands for healing and recovery. During this state, lipolysis, the process of breaking down fat stores into free fatty acids and glycerol, is significantly accelerated.

This increase in lipolysis serves as a crucial energy source. The body must mobilize fat reserves to provide the necessary calories for tissue repair and recovery, as the energy expenditure can be markedly elevated due to the stress of the injury and the need for immune function and thermoregulation. By breaking down fat, the body can utilize these fatty acids for energy production, which is vital in maintaining metabolic demands when carbohydrate sources may be insufficient or during a time when protein utilization is also emphasized for healing.

Understanding the body's response to a burn injury, particularly the reliance on fat stores for energy through lipolysis, underscores the adaptive mechanisms that facilitate recovery and make nutritional interventions essential in burn care. This focus on fat metabolism contrasts with processes like glycogenesis, protein synthesis, and glycolysis, which, while still relevant, do not experience the same level of acceleration in response to the burn-induced hypermetabolic state.