metabolism

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a prevalent chronic metabolic liver disorder, whose onset and progression are closely associated with dysregulated lipid metabolism, chronic inflammation, and intestinal microbial dysbiosis. The gut and liver are anatomically and functionally connected via the portal vein system, through which gut-derived metabolites, inflammatory me…

A Japanese research group has published findings from a mouse model study describing how the loss of a protein in the brain can impact weight gain by stimulating cravings that lead to overeating. Specifically, scientists looked at the role of a mitochondrial fusion protein called optic atrophy-1 (OPA1) in maintaining metabolic health. OPA1 is found in the brain’s Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) ne…

Scientific Reports, Published online: 15 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41598-026-67281-8 Adipocyte-derived extracellular vesicles differentially regulate MASLD-associated metabolic responses in hepatocytes depending on glucose conditions

Preventative health technology company Viome Life Sciences has acquired Circulate Health, which has pioneered a therapeutic plasma exchange outside the hospital setting. Viome says the move will integrate its molecular diagnostics and precision nutrition platform with Circulate’s physician-facilitated therapeutic plasma exchange and its network of clinical partners in the US. As the science of me…

What if one of the keys to a healthier metabolism is understanding how and when the liver communicates with the rest of the body?

Nature Communications, Published online: 11 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-76595-0 Multiple cell populations within the bone tumour microenvironment have been shown to support multiple myeloma (MM). Here, the authors show that under glucose deprived conditions, adipocytes produce β-hydroxybutyrate, which promotes MM cell survival.

Nature Communications, Published online: 01 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-76220-0 Here, via longitudinal multi-omics analyses, the authors show that maternal gut virome disruption precedes preterm birth and relates to metabolic alterations, with viral signatures improving preterm birth prediction, highlighting the virome as a potential target for risk assessment.

Can a low-carb diet cause your cholesterol to skyrocket? This question has vexed researchers and influencers alike as the popularity of low-carbohydrate diets has surged, yet the evidence has remained mixed.

Nature Communications, Published online: 22 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-75822-y Bariatric surgery resolves metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Here the authors showed vertical sleeve gastrectomy alleviated MASH by enhancing MAT1A-driven one-carbon metabolism and S-adenosylmethionine production.

BackgroundAntibiotic-induced disruption of the gut microbiota is known to influence host metabolism; however, whether its metabolic effects depend on the duration of exposure remains unclear, particularly in relation to adipose thermogenesis under high-fat diet (HFD) conditions.MethodsC57BL/6 mice fed an HFD were treated with a broad-spectrum antibiotic cocktail for either short-term (2 weeks) or…

An mTORC1-activating signal that promotes triglyceride synthesis and its major hepatic source are revealed.

When gut bacteria break down dietary fibre, they appear to send signals to the body’s brown fat, which acts as an internal radiator. A new study points to a previously unknown link between digestion and heat-producing fat that could both reshape our understanding of metabolism and, in time, pave the way for new treatments for obesity and metabolic disorders.

Scientific Reports, Published online: 07 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41598-026-60437-6 Heterogeneity, longitudinal decline, and metabolic risk in MRI-based quantification of 20 individual hip and thigh muscles

BackgroundPyruvate kinase liver and red blood cells (PKLR) is linked to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Previous study, we identified JNK-IN-5A, a c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor that suppresses PKL expression in HepG2 cells using computational drug repurposing and screened out four hit JNK-IN-5A derivatives (SET-151, SET-152, SET-162, SET-130).Materials …

Introduction to metabolic flux analysis Metabolism is universal to all cells and involves thousands of metabolites distributed through interconnected pathways. 1-4 This has important consequences for the viability of a cell. While the levels of metabolites are useful parameters for biochemical analysis , a more nuanced way of looking at metabolic outputs is to measure metabolic flux (r) through r…