Research

Hormonal

Glucose and its metabolites (e.g., lactate, alanine, TCA intermediates) act as signaling molecules that communicate the metabolic status of peripheral tissues (muscle, adipose) to other organs (liver, hypothalamus) to maintain glucose homeostasis.

Your body uses the byproducts of glucose metabolism (like lactate and alanine) to talk to your liver and brain about your energy status. This 'intertissue communication' helps regulate blood sugar. Disruptions in this signaling, such as reduced glucose entry into fat cells, can lead to insulin resistance.

StrongSupportsVERY_HIGH confidence
These and other exported glucose-derived metabolites serve as signals to other organs and may convey information reflective of the cellular status of their tissue of origin.
Mark A. Herman · Journal of Clinical Investigation · 2006

Why this rating

Supported by multiple transgenic models and established physiological pathways (Cori cycle, glucose-alanine cycle).

Source

Glucose transport and sensing in the maintenance of glucose homeostasis and metabolic harmony

Mark A. Herman · Journal of Clinical Investigation · 2006

DOI 10.1172/jci29027

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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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