Where does the glycerol 3-phosphate come from?
It’s a product of carbohydrate metabolism. When carbohydrates are consumed, they are metabolized into simple sugar molecules which then flow into the blood stream. The body responds by releasing insulin to move the sugar out of the blood stream and into the cells. Once insulin has moved the blood sugar into the cells, the cells use it as a fuel for the cellular activity. When the sugar is burned for fuel, glycerol 3-phosphate is created. Because the glycerol 3-phosphate is now present, any fatty acids flowing into the fat cell are converted into triglyceride form and stored via a process called esterification. So, fat storage follows a simple process: • When blood sugar and insulin are low, stored triglycerides are converted into fatty acids which then flow from the fat cells as needed for fuel. • When blood sugar and insulin levels are high, insulin moves the glucose into the cells, where it is burned for fuel, creating glycerol 3-phosphate. When glycerol 3-phosphate is present in the
