Metabolism

What is metabolism?

Metabolism refers to the sum of the biochemical reactions required for energy generation and the use of energy to synthesize cell material from small molecules in the environment. Metabolism has an energy-generating component, called catabolism, and an energy-consuming, biosynthetic component, called anabolism. Catabolic reactions or pathways produce energy as ATP, which can be utilized in anabolic reactions to build cell material from nutrients in the environment.

Anabolism & Catabolism

The relationship between catabolism and anabolism

Anabolism & Catabolism

Intermediary Metabolism

The idea is that we have a process acting between one thing and another, transforming or changing the thing from one form to another form.

Intermediary metabolism describes the hundreds of biochemical reactions that take place in our bodies every second.

Through intermediary metabolism, the food we eat is transformed into energy. Through intermediary metabolism, our food is also transformed into new molecules that are then used to make up cellular organelles, cells, and tissues.

Although all of the biochemical reactions are now understood in great detail, we
can think of intermediary metabolism as the black box that takes the nutrients we eat and transforms them into the structures of our bodies and the energy we need to run them.

You are NOT what you eat

Within certain limits, our bodies are able to take in what we eat, break it down into pieces of molecules, and build it back up into the molecules we need to build and to run our bodies.
In other words, intermediary metabolism is what makes us what we are in the physical sense.

Because of intermediary metabolism, the fat we eat does not have to become fat in our bodies. It can be burned as fuel.

You are NOT what you eat

Because of intermediary metabolism, the cholesterol we eat does not have to become cholesterol deposits. It can be incorporated into cell walls to make them less rigid.
Because of intermediary metabolism, the carbohydrates we eat can easily be transformed into energy or, if conditions are right, turned into fat, stored, and locked into storage. Bottom line: You are NOT what you eat.

Intermediary Metabolism

Interrelationship of various Organs in Metabolism

Gut Pancreas Liver Brain Adipose tissue Kidney Muscle tissue Heart

Metabolic Processes

Occurs in all cells Involves anabolic and catabolic pathways Converts Substrates to Products

Catalysed by Enzymes
Requires coenzymes and cofactors Regulated by enzymes by various mechanisms Disturbances leads to disease conditions

Metabolic Diseases
Starvation Obesity Syndrome-X Diabetes

Mellitus

Protein

Energy Malnutrition
Colon

CancerArthritis Renal Liver

Disease Disease