Protection in a model of liver injury is parallel to energy mobilization capacity under distinct nutritional status.

•Eighteen-h fasting (versus feeding) before liver isolation increases cytolysis of ex vivo livers.•Transition from 18- to 24-h fasting before organ isolation reduces liver cytolysis.•Transition from 18- to 24-h fasting before organ isolation increases liver autophagy.•Inhibiting autophagy cancels ex vivo liver protection induced by 24-h (versus 18-h) fasting,•Ex vivo liver protections follow energy mobilization capacities (glycogen, autophagy).