metabolity

Metabolity is a term sometimes used to describe small molecules that are produced, consumed, or transformed during metabolic processes in living organisms. In most scientific contexts, the standard term is metabolite, and metabolity appears as a less common synonym or a misnomer. Metabolites encompass a broad range of low-molecular-weight compounds that participate in or result from metabolism, including sugars, amino acids, nucleotides, lipids, and inorganic intermediates.

Metabolites are commonly divided into primary and secondary (specialized) metabolites. Primary metabolites are essential for growth, development, and maintenance, and include products of central carbon metabolism such as glucose, pyruvate, ATP, and catalytic intermediates. Secondary metabolites are not strictly required for survival but serve ecological roles, especially in plants and microbes, where compounds like alkaloids, terpenoids, and phenolics can influence interactions with other organisms.

Metabolites originate from endogenous cellular reactions or are introduced from the diet and environment. The gut microbiome also produces metabolites that can affect host physiology. Metabolite levels vary between tissues and over time, reflecting genetics, physiology, diet, and exposure to environmental factors, and can serve as indicators of health or disease.

Analytically, metabolites are studied in the field of metabolomics, using techniques such as mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Applications span biomarker discovery, pharmacology and drug development, nutrition research, and plant science, highlighting the central role of metabolites in biology and medicine.