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Energy Substrate Flux

Meaning

Energy Substrate Flux refers to the dynamic and continuous movement, utilization, and interconversion of the body’s primary fuel sources—glucose, fatty acids, and ketones—across different tissues and metabolic pathways. This flux represents the body’s metabolic flexibility, which is its ability to efficiently switch between these substrates based on nutritional intake, activity level, and hormonal signals. Optimal substrate flux is a hallmark of metabolic health, ensuring that cells have a consistent, reliable energy supply while avoiding the accumulation of harmful metabolic byproducts. Hormonal health is intrinsically linked to this flux, as hormones like insulin, glucagon, and cortisol directly regulate substrate availability.