What are the disadvantages of glycolysis?

While glycolysis is a critical pathway for ATP production, especially under anaerobic conditions, it has limitations. It produces a small amount of ATP compared to oxidative phosphorylation, and the NADH generated in glycolysis must be recycled to NAD+ for the pathway to continue. In the absence of oxygen, this recycling occurs via fermentation, which generates less ATP and can lead to toxic byproducts.