Carbs & Metabolic Flexibility in Liver, Adipose & Muscle

Role of Dietary Carbohydrates on Metabolic Flexibility in Key Target Tissues: Liver, Adipose Tissue and Skeletal Muscle

Dietary carbohydrates, depending on their glycemic index, have differential effects on metabolic flexibility. Prof Salto explains that metabolic flexibility is the capability of a tissue to select fuel substrate use in response to specific nutrient availability. An example is the capability of skeletal muscle to switch between primary fat and glucose metabolism in response to an insulin stimulus. This flexibility takes place in healthy lean individuals and is hampered in individuals with diabetes and obesity. Prof Salto further discusses the role of diet in metabolic flexibility..