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Systemic Energy Substrate Utilization

Meaning

Systemic Energy Substrate Utilization describes the body-wide process of selecting, mobilizing, and oxidizing macronutrients—primarily carbohydrates, fats, and proteins—to meet the energetic demands of all tissues. This metabolic flexibility is under tight hormonal control, dynamically shifting between substrates based on nutritional status, activity level, and time of day. Optimal utilization is a marker of excellent metabolic health and hormonal balance, ensuring efficient fuel delivery to the brain and muscle. Dysregulation in this process is characteristic of metabolic syndrome.