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Substrate Utilization Signaling

Meaning

The complex intracellular and hormonal communication network that dictates which energy source—glucose, fatty acids, or amino acids—a cell or tissue will preferentially metabolize at any given time. This signaling is tightly regulated by hormones like insulin, glucagon, and adrenaline, and is critical for maintaining metabolic flexibility and preventing energy substrate overload. Dysregulation of this signaling is a key feature of insulin resistance and impaired metabolic health.