Consequences Of Increased Cellular Metabolism

Cells and organ systems of the human body function to maintain a state of balance called homeostasis. In a homeostatic state, energy consumption and production are paced in accordance with the functional demands of the cell. Cellular metabolism increases with physical activity. A pathological increase in cellular metabolism is characteristic of a hyper-metabolic state. Consequences of increased cellular metabolism are related to increased cellular consumption of nutrients and oxygen.

Physiology

Cellular metabolism requires nutrients such as glucose, amino acids, enzymes, co-enzymes and oxygen. Increased cellular metabolism means an increase in the amount of work a cell has to do. In order to perform this extra work, the cell uses even more glucose, amino acids, enzymes and oxygen. If daily nutrition does not increase as metabolic demands escalate, then the body breaks down stores of glucose, protein and fat to meet the increased energy demand.

Increased glucose consumption on a tissue level results in increased production of byproducts of glucose metabolism such as ATP, carbon dioxide and lactic acid. ATP powers the cell for the increased energy demands caused by increased metabolism. Increased production of carbon dioxide and lactic acid causes an increase in the acid content of the cellular environment. An acidic environment, or acidosis, can result in damage to normal cells.

The stimulus for increased cellular metabolic rate can be internal or external to the cell. Examples of external stimuli are thyroid hormone excess, adrenaline, injury, chronic inflammatory diseases and infection.

Weight Loss

Engaging in an exercise causes weight loss when calories burned exceed calories consumed. This is why dietary monitoring is an important part of a weight-loss plan.

Cancer is an example of an internal cause of increased cellular metabolism that has a consequence of weight loss. Cancer cells grow and multiply in an uncontrolled manner. This increased growth and multiplication rate consumes nutrients more rapidly. The unrestrained growth of tumor cells causes decreased oxygen and increased acid content of local tissues. According to research performed at the University of Arizona, this low-oxygen, high-acid environment favors the growth of even more abnormal cancer cells.

Rapid cellular reproduction and abnormal cell growth cause cancer cells to consume an inordinate amount of the body’s nutrients. Normal cells are replaced by tumor cells that spread to other parts of the body and multiply. This is called metastasis.

Increased cellular metabolic rate in cancer is manifested as progressive weight loss involving loss of fat and muscle tissue. Aggravated by loss of appetite, the excessive cellular metabolic demands of cancer cells eventually cause death.

Increased Heart Rate

Hyperthyroidism is an example of an increase in cellular metabolism caused by a stimulus external to the cell. This stimulation of increased cellular metabolism is caused by excessive levels of thyroxine, the hormone produced by the thyroid gland. The clinical symptoms of increased cellular metabolism due to hyperthyroidism are weight loss, rapid heart rate, elevated blood pressure, anxiety and tremor. In elderly people, hyperthyroidism can simulate depression. According to "Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine," approximately 5 percent of people with hyperthyroidism gain weight due to increased food intake caused by an enhanced appetite. Prior to modern therapeutic options, death from hyperthyroidism was 10 to 30 percent.