THE ROLE OF THE LIVER IN CARBOHYDRATE, LIPID, AND AMINO ACID METABOLISM: BIOCHEMICAL MECHANISMS AND CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Abstract
The liver is the largest metabolic organ in the human body and serves as the central regulator of carbohydrate, lipid, and amino acid metabolism. Through a complex network of enzymatic pathways, the liver maintains energy homeostasis, regulates nutrient distribution, detoxifies metabolic by-products, and synthesizes essential biomolecules. Hepatic dysfunction significantly alters metabolic processes, leading to disorders such as diabetes mellitus, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), dyslipidemia, hepatic encephalopathy, and metabolic syndrome. This review summarizes the biochemical mechanisms through which the liver regulates carbohydrate, lipid, and amino acid metabolism and discusses their physiological and clinical significance. Recent advances in molecular hepatology and metabolic regulation are also highlighted.
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