What is another term for an amino acid that can be converted into glucose?

The correct term for an amino acid that can be converted into glucose is glycogenic amino acid. Glycogenic amino acids can be utilized in gluconeogenesis, the metabolic process where glucose is synthesized from non-carbohydrate precursors. This conversion occurs primarily in the liver and is crucial for maintaining blood glucose levels during fasting or intense exercise.

Glycogenic amino acids can be converted to intermediates that enter the glycolytic pathway or directly into glucose itself. Common examples of glycogenic amino acids include alanine and glutamine. Understanding the role of these amino acids is important in the context of energy metabolism and the body's ability to maintain glucose homeostasis.