The Metabolic Classroom with Dr. Ben Bikman The Randle Cycle: How Your Body Chooses Between Glucose and Fat
Jul 23, 2024
Discover the intricacies of the Randle Cycle and how your body chooses between glucose and fatty acids for fuel. Delve into the historical research behind this metabolic concept and the impact of insulin on energy regulation. Uncover the complex interplay between fat metabolism and glucose utilization. Explore how insulin resistance affects not just energy storage but also brain health, linking it to conditions like Alzheimer's. This insightful discussion clarifies common misconceptions around nutrition and metabolic flexibility.
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Randle Cycle Overview
- The Randle Cycle, also known as the glucose fatty acid cycle, explains how cells choose between fats and glucose for fuel.
- This concept is often misinterpreted, especially on social media, so understanding its true meaning is important.
Substrate Competition
- Cells prioritize burning fats when more fats are available than glucose, and vice-versa.
- This substrate competition explains why "you burn what you eat" is more accurate than "you are what you eat."
Fat Burning Inhibits Glucose
- Increased fatty acids in the bloodstream promote fat uptake and beta-oxidation, producing acetyl-CoA and NADH.
- These molecules inhibit glucose utilization by blocking key enzymes like pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH).