What is the Origin of Metabolic Disruptors?

The term is an extension of the broader concept of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, specifically focusing on those agents whose primary adverse effects target the hormones and pathways governing metabolism. The recognition of these disruptors arose from toxicological and epidemiological studies linking widespread environmental exposures, such as certain plasticizers and pesticides, to adverse metabolic health outcomes in human and animal populations.

What is the Mechanism of Metabolic Disruptors?

Metabolic disruptors operate by multiple mechanisms, including acting as agonists or antagonists to key nuclear receptors such as the Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs) and the Glucocorticoid Receptor (GR). They can also interfere with the synthesis, transport, or signaling of adipokines and pancreatic hormones, or directly impair mitochondrial function. By mimicking or blocking endogenous metabolic hormones, these chemicals alter gene expression and cellular function, leading to dysregulation of lipid and glucose partitioning.

Metabolic Disruptors

Meaning

Metabolic Disruptors are exogenous chemical substances, often classified as environmental or endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), that interfere with the body’s normal metabolic processes, including the regulation of glucose, lipid, and energy homeostasis. Exposure to these compounds is clinically linked to an increased risk of developing obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes by compromising hormonal signaling. These agents represent a significant, non-traditional factor contributing to the global burden of metabolic disease.