Product Review

AMPK is an enzyme essential for maintaining energy balance. It consists of 3 proteins (called sub-units) that together create a functional enzyme. AMPK is expressed in various tissues, including the brain, liver, skeletal muscle, and fat cells. The net effects of AMPK activation include ketogenesis, stimulation of hepatic fatty acid oxidation, inhibition of cholesterol synthesis, triglyceride synthesis, and lipogenesis, and the stimulation of glucose uptake and skeletal muscle fatty acid oxidation. AMPK is also an energy sensor. When activated in the proper tissues, it brings about a number of beneficial effects in the body. It improves insulin sensitivity, stimulates weight loss, enhances muscle performance, and reduces inflammation, among many other benefits. It also fosters healthy aging and is involved in multiple longevity pathways. AMPK was initially discovered as an activity that was induced by AMP and that suppressed the preparations of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). AMPK induces a surge of events within the cells in the body, in response to the cell's ever-changing energy charge. AMPK's role in normalizing cellular energy charge makes it vital for maintaining homeostasis. Recent evidence shows that physiological stimuli can also regulate AMPK activity. This includes nutrients and hormones, and is independent of the cell's energy charge.