What is the Origin of Metabolic Triage?

This concept borrows terminology from emergency medicine, applying the principle of prioritizing the most critical needs when resources are scarce to the internal management of macronutrients and hormones. In the context of chronic stress, the body effectively triages its metabolic budget.

What is the Mechanism of Metabolic Triage?

The primary driver of metabolic triage is sustained elevation of catabolic hormones, notably cortisol, often coupled with insulin resistance or low energy availability. Cortisol directs glucose toward the CNS while suppressing anabolic processes like protein synthesis and gonadal hormone production. This mechanism ensures immediate energy supply for the perceived threat, but chronic application leads to systemic degradation and hormonal imbalance.

Metabolic Triage ∞ Area

Metabolic Triage

Meaning

Metabolic Triage is the physiological prioritization process where the body allocates limited energy substrates and resources based on perceived immediate survival demands, often mediated by the endocrine system. Under conditions of significant stress or energy deficit, non-essential functions, such as reproduction or deep tissue repair, are downregulated to support immediate high-priority systems like cardiovascular and CNS function. It is an adaptive, albeit potentially detrimental long-term, resource management strategy.