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Mitochondrial Substrate Utilization

Meaning

Mitochondrial Substrate Utilization is the core cellular process by which mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cell, take in and metabolize various fuel sources—primarily glucose, fatty acids, and ketone bodies—to generate Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), the cell’s primary energy currency. This process is a fundamental determinant of metabolic health and cellular longevity. Optimal utilization is characterized by metabolic flexibility, the ability to efficiently switch between these substrates based on availability and cellular demand. Dysfunction, such as a reliance on a single substrate or impaired oxidative phosphorylation, is a clinical hallmark of insulin resistance, chronic fatigue, and accelerated cellular aging.