Where glycerol goes
Hepatic glycerol gluconeogenesis
Also searched as Hepatic glycerol gluconeogenesis.
The glycerol released when fat is broken down travels to the liver, and the liver can route it two ways: into new glucose, or into new fatty acids. So there are two recapture systems, not one. The first sits inside the fat cell and puts most of the released fat straight back. The second sits in the liver and can rebuild what escaped. This matters for reading the evidence: a rise in blood glycerol proves fat left the cell. It does not prove fat left the body. That is why release has to be paired with something that actually burns what was released.
In depth
Where the glycerol goes after it leaves the fat cell — and why leaving the cell is not the same as leaving the body.
What drives it
Releases stored fat increases it.
10.4103/bbrj.bbrj_14_20 — Nbk560564 — the futile cycle has a second, whole-body arm — and it was the german reference that named it. 'Das in der Lipolyze entstandene Glycerin wird ebenfalls von der Leber abgebaut und zur GLUCONEOGENESE oder FETTSÄURESYNTHESE herangezogen' = the glycerol produced by lipolysis is broken down by the liver and used for gluconeogenesis OR fatty-acid synthesis (flexikon.doccheck.com/de/Lipolyze (deutsch)). ⇒ the re-esterification node covers what is recaptured inside the fat cell. This is what is recaptured after it has left: the glycerol travels to the liver and can be rebuilt into fatty acids there. The consequence for every glycerol measurement in this formula: glycerol appearing in blood proves fat left the cell. It does not prove fat left the body. Almost every driver here is graded on glycerol release, and that is the honest ceiling on what those numbers mean. doi 10.4103/bbrj.bbrj_14_20
What it drives
It increases Stops fat storage.
10.1002/advs.202401311 — The futile cycle has a second, whole-body arm — and it was the german reference that named it. 'Das in der Lipolyze entstandene Glycerin wird ebenfalls von der Leber abgebaut und zur GLUCONEOGENESE oder FETTSÄURESYNTHESE herangezogen' = the glycerol produced by lipolysis is broken down by the liver and used for gluconeogenesis OR fatty-acid synthesis (flexikon.doccheck.com/de/Lipolyze (deutsch)). ⇒ the re-esterification node covers what is recaptured inside the fat cell. This is what is recaptured after it has left: the glycerol travels to the liver and can be rebuilt into fatty acids there. The consequence for every glycerol measurement in this formula: glycerol appearing in blood proves fat left the cell. It does not prove fat left the body. Almost every driver here is graded on glycerol release, and that is the honest ceiling on what those numbers mean. The source names two destinations, and only one is drawn here: the liver routes released glycerol into new glucose as well as into new fat. The glucose arm is the benign one. Which arm dominates depends on the fed or fasted state — one more reason this product's own evidence says fasted. The glucose arm is not shown as a separate connection here. doi 10.1002/advs.202401311
It increases Liver glucose output.
10.1016/j.molmet.2019.11.005 — 10.1210/endrev/bnaf033 — the benign half of the liver's choice. 'Das in der Lipolyze entstandene Glycerin wird ebenfalls von der Leber abgebaut und zur GLUCONEOGENESE oder Fettsäuresynthese herangezogen' = the glycerol produced by lipolysis is broken down by the liver and used for gluconeogenesis or fatty-acid synthesis (DocCheck Flexikon — Lipolyze (deutsch)). ⇒ one molecule, two destinations, and they ARE opposites: glycerol becoming glucose is fat genuinely leaving the fat economy; glycerol becoming fat again is the whole-body futile cycle. Which one dominates depends on the fed or fasted state — one more reason the fasted condition is not optional for this product. doi 10.1016/j.molmet.2019.11.005
Blends that modulate it
Each blend page names this pathway and carries the study behind its claim.
See it on the map
Open the causal map to follow this pathway upstream and downstream, arrow by arrow, each with its study.