Metabólica

Metabólica is an adjective used in Portuguese and Spanish to describe anything related to metabolism, the set of chemical processes that sustain life by transforming energy and matter. It encompasses catabolism, the breakdown of molecules to release energy, and anabolism, the biosynthesis of complex molecules using energy. In biology, pathways such as glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, lipid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism are collectively described as metabolic processes.

Metabolic pathways are organized series of enzymatic steps that convert substrates into products. They are regulated by cellular energy status, hormones like insulin and glucagon, and by feedback mechanisms, ensuring balance between energy production and consumption. The brain, muscles, liver, and adipose tissue play central roles, and metabolism adapts to fasting, feeding, and exercise.

Metabolic rate refers to the amount of energy expended by an organism over time. Basal metabolic rate is the energy used at rest. Variations in metabolic efficiency influence growth, reproduction, and aging. Abnormal metabolism can underlie diseases; for example, impaired carbohydrate metabolism is central to diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemias reflect lipid metabolism disturbances, and inborn errors of metabolism affect specific biochemical pathways.

In clinical and research contexts, the term metabólica appears in phrases like vía metabólica (metabolic pathway) and síndrome metabólico (metabolic syndrome), a cluster of traits increasing cardiovascular risk, including insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, elevated glucose, triglycerides, and reduced HDL cholesterol.