Metabolic and Liver Diseases Program

Mastering Metabolism

Metabolism is the sum of the chemical reactions that take place within each cell of a living organism. It is the fundamental process of converting food into energy, creating the building blocks of life—proteins, lipids, nucleic acids and more—and ensuring that the organism thrives.

Metabolic dysfunction disrupts this universal commonality of life and can lead to a broad spectrum of devastating, chronic diseases. At the center of metabolic functioning is the liver, which makes it at particular risk. Dysfunction in the body’s largest internal organ can create a cascade of harm.