Skip to main content

Metabolic Flexibility

Meaning

Metabolic flexibility is the physiological capacity of a cell, tissue, or organism to seamlessly shift its fuel source for energy production between carbohydrates (glucose) and lipids (fatty acids) in response to nutrient availability and energy demands. This adaptive capacity is a crucial indicator of robust metabolic health and insulin sensitivity. Impaired metabolic flexibility is a common precursor to insulin resistance and cardiometabolic diseases.