BIOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE OF INTERMEDIARY CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM IN DISEASE MANIFESTATION : A REVIEW

The intermediary carbohydrate metabolism represents the break down products of both free and bound carbohydrates viz. the lactic and pyruvic acid. The levels and ratios of the above organic acid derivatives reflect the metabolic and oxidative potentials of tissues. They also serve as indicators to environmental stressors and diagnostic markers to inflammation and disease manifestations. Various enzymes such as phosphomonoesterases, dehydrogenases and phosphorylases are operating the Kreb's cycle, the central hub of the metabolic apparatus of the aerobic cells tissues. In addition, energy metabolism also involves the operation of several alternative routes such as Hexosemonophosphate (HMP) pathway, pentose shunt, lactate metabolism. proteolysis etc. Oxidative/aerobic metabolism of cells, tissues and organs is constrained by various environmental stressors. Animals exhibit various physiological compensatory mechanisms of adaptations to the deviated stressed state. The immunological mechanisms also counteract to stressors. However, when these adaptive responses fail to operate, stress syndrome manifests. It expresses in tissue pathology and diseases.