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Fuel Utilization Preference

Meaning

Fuel Utilization Preference describes the body’s primary reliance on specific macronutrients—carbohydrates, fats, or, in extremis, protein—as its main energy substrate for metabolic needs. This preference is a dynamic, hormonally-regulated state, shifting in response to nutritional status, physical activity intensity, and insulin signaling. A flexible metabolism, able to readily switch between glucose and fatty acid oxidation, is a key indicator of metabolic health and insulin sensitivity. Clinical assessment of this preference offers insight into potential metabolic dysfunction or efficiency.