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Glucose-Fatty Acid Cycle

Meaning

The Glucose-Fatty Acid Cycle, also known as the Randle Cycle, describes the reciprocal metabolic relationship where the oxidation of one major fuel substrate inhibits the utilization of the other, primarily between glucose and fatty acids in muscle and heart tissue. This cycle is a fundamental component of metabolic flexibility, enabling cells to prioritize the most abundant or preferred energy source at any given moment. An increased rate of fatty acid breakdown, for example, leads to a subsequent inhibition of glucose oxidation. Dysregulation of this intricate cycle is strongly implicated in the development of peripheral insulin resistance and the pathophysiology of Type 2 Diabetes.