Skip to main content

Metabolic Downregulation

Meaning

Metabolic downregulation is a physiological state characterized by a deliberate, adaptive reduction in the body’s basal energy expenditure and overall cellular activity, often in response to chronic caloric restriction, persistent psychological stress, or endocrine fatigue. This state represents a survival mechanism where the body conserves energy by slowing essential processes, which can manifest clinically as hypothyroidism, compromised immune function, and difficulty in maintaining body temperature. This maladaptation is detrimental to long-term health and hormonal equilibrium.