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Hepatic Metabolism Gating

Meaning

Hepatic metabolism gating refers to the time-of-day dependent regulation of metabolic pathways within the liver, where specific processes are selectively activated or inhibited by the intrinsic circadian clock. The liver acts as a metabolic gatekeeper, rhythmically shifting between phases of synthesis (e.g., lipid and cholesterol production) during the feeding phase and catabolism (e.g., gluconeogenesis and fat oxidation) during the fasting phase. This gating mechanism is essential for maintaining systemic energy balance and blood glucose homeostasis. Misaligned feeding or sleep schedules can disrupt this gating, leading to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and other metabolic disorders.