Metabolic disorders in a child or carelessness of parents. Metabolism and its features in children of different age groups Factors affecting metabolism

In childhood and adolescence, various changes in metabolic processes (metabolism) are carried out. Each age period corresponds to the state of metabolism, which ensures the optimal state of plastic and energy processes. The main features of metabolism in children and adolescents are:

The presence of specific processes in the plastic material (proteins, etc.), due to the need for growth and development of the organism;

Changes in a number of metabolic pathways and cycles, which is associated with depression of regulatory genes, induction or suppression of the synthesis of many enzymes;

Development of adequate neurohumoral regulation of metabolism;

Increased sensitivity of organs and tissues (target organs) to the activity of hormones and biologically active substances;

Heterochronism (not simultaneity in time) of growth and development of various anatomical systems of the body;

Increasing the energy reserves of the body in the process of growth;

Relative decrease in the volume of the internal environment due to an increase in the cell mass of organs and tissues;

The presence of the phenomenon of homeoresis - maintaining constancy in developing systems, reflecting the gene regulation of growth and development processes, the anabolic orientation of metabolism (the predominance of synthesis processes).

The exchange of amino acids in children of 6-12 years of age is very active, providing support for the processes of growth and development. Intensive protein synthesis requires a sufficient amount of complete proteins rich in essential amino acids. The need for proteins in children aged 7-11 years is 63 g per day. The daily requirement of school-age children for essential amino acids is from 19 mg (histidine) to 196 mg (leucine). The absence or insufficient amount of at least one amino acid can manifest itself at this age as a slowdown in growth processes, weight loss, a tendency to various infectious diseases (decreased immunity), the presence of a negative nitrogen balance, which is always positive in a growing body. The metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids in children is almost the same as in adults. In children of preschool and early school age, there is some tendency to hypoglycemia (decrease in the concentration of glucose in the blood) with insufficient intake of glucose from food. This is due to imperfect neurohumoral regulation of glycogen mobilization in the liver and increased utilization of glucose by tissues. Utilization of glucose corresponds to its level in adults, starting from 8-14 years of age. The need for carbohydrates in children is quite high. It is equal to 305 g per day at primary school age and from 334 g to 421 g at senior school age (in the absence of additional physical activity). The metabolism of fats in childhood is unstable. In children under the age of 10, an increased tendency to form ketone bodies (products of incomplete oxidation of fatty acids) and ketosis (a decrease in blood pH due to the accumulation of ketone bodies) is determined. Cholesterol levels (both free and bound) rise rapidly after birth. Starting from puberty, girls have higher blood levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) than boys, which is largely due to sex differences in hormonal metabolism regulation. Physiological and metabolic features characteristic of childhood and adolescence are important factors that determine physical performance, the ability of the body to endure stress.

Aerobic and anaerobic performance in children and adolescents

Aerobic performance

At primary school age, the energy supply of muscle activity goes along the path of increasing the aerobic capacity (performance) of the body (aerobic performance - all those functions that ensure the supply, transport and utilization of oxygen). At this age, muscle fibers in the composition of the musculature of the limbs are not completely differentiated, slowly contracting ("oxidative") muscle fibers predominate in the composition of the muscles. At the age of 12-13 years, their share in the muscle structure on average slightly decreases compared to 7-year-old children, increases at the age of 14, and decreases almost three times at the age of 16-17 years.

At the age of 6-12 years, the child is easier to endure extensive loads (high power) than intensive ones. Children of primary school age have high endurance at work of moderate intensity. With the normal course of adaptive reactions in young athletes to loads associated with endurance, there is a consistent improvement in the functioning of body systems. This is expressed in the economization of the functions of the cardiovascular system under standard loads of different power, in the progressive increase in the aerobic capacity of the body. Starting from the age of 12, a certain “turning point” occurs in the energy supply of muscle activity, which is characterized by a decrease in aerobic performance. It is due to the onset of the pubertal growth spurt and an increase in the proportion of anaerobic mechanisms of energy production. The value of maximum aerobic productivity in boys is greater than in girls. The largest annual increase in aerobic productivity is observed in boys aged 13-14 years (maximum oxygen consumption (MC) - by 28%), in girls - 12-13 years (MC - by 17%) (Goldberg N.D., Dondukovskaya R. .R., 2007).

By adolescence, there is an economization of motor activity and stabilization of energy costs during physical activity (when running, walking, etc.). The maximum absolute level of aerobic productivity is achieved in boys at the age of 18, in girls - at the age of 15. The relative value of this indicator almost does not change with age, which leads to a fairly high aerobic performance in children and adolescents, with its maximum at the age of 15-16 years (Goldberg N.D., Dondukovskaya R.R., 2007).

The main stages of metabolism and energy in children from the moment of birth to the formation of an adult organism have a number of their own characteristics. At the same time, quantitative characteristics change, and a qualitative restructuring of metabolic processes takes place. So, in children, unlike adults, a significant part of the energy is spent on plastic processes, which are greatest in young children.

The basal metabolism in children varies depending on the age of the child and the type of nutrition. In the first days of life, it is 512 kcal / m 2, then gradually increases and by 1.5 years has a value of 1200 kcal / m 2. By the period, energy consumption for basal metabolism decreases to 960 kcal/m 2 . At the same time, in boys, the energy costs for the main metabolism in terms of 1 kg of body weight are higher than in girls. With growth, energy expenditure for muscle activity increases.

The main reason, which largely determines the state of metabolic processes in childhood, is the incomplete development of humoral and nervous mechanisms of regulation, which ensure the adaptation of the body to the effects of the external environment and a more uniform nature of responses. An expression of the immaturity of regulatory mechanisms is, for example, the insufficient ability of the liver and kidneys to detoxify and cleanse the body of various harmful products, as well as significant fluctuations in the osmotic pressure of blood plasma, a tendency to hyperkalemia, etc.

From the second week of life, the processes of anabolism over catabolism begin to predominate in a child. Protein metabolism is characterized by a positive nitrogen balance and an increased need for protein. A child needs 4-7 times more amino acids than an adult. The child also has a high need for carbohydrates; at their expense, caloric needs are mainly covered. Metabolism is closely related to nitrogen metabolism. Glucose promotes protein, its introduction reduces the concentration of amino acids in the blood. Reaction energy is required for the full use of fat. Fat makes up about 1/8 of a child's body and is a carrier of energy, promotes the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, protects the body from cooling, and is a structural part of many tissues. Certain unsaturated fatty acids (see Fats) are essential for the growth and normal function of the skin. At birth, the content of lipids (see) in the blood of the child is reduced, and the content of phosphatides is much lower than. In addition, children have a physiological tendency towards ketosis, in which small glycogen stores may play a role.

The water content in the tissues of the child is high and amounts to 3/4 of the body weight in infants and decreases with age. There are regular diurnal fluctuations in water release. In a healthy infant, it rises in the afternoon, reaching a maximum at midnight, and sharply decreases in the morning. Therefore, weighing a child is more reasonable in the morning, which gives a correct idea of \u200b\u200btrue weight gain.

The complex of chemical reactions in the human body - the intake of nutrients, their absorption from the digestive system, fermentation and breakdown, assimilation and excretion, is called metabolism, or metabolism. In the case when a failure occurs at one of the levels of this complex biological system of the child's body, they speak of a disturbed metabolism.

Features of metabolism in children and causes of disorders

The metabolism of a child has its own characteristics, and it differs significantly from the metabolic process in adults. The child's body needs much more resources and energy to digest food and assimilate its nutrients, because the development of children takes place in an intensive mode.

The peculiarities of metabolism in children is that a significant part of the energy that enters the body in the form of food is spent on the growth and development of the baby. Infants need foods rich in fats and cholesterol, which are so necessary for brain development and the proper formation of the nervous system.

For normal growth and development, the child's body needs protein food, which contains all the essential amino acids. In the diet of a child under the age of 3 years, there should be at least 75% of complete proteins, from three to seven years - 60%, from seven to fourteen - 50%. The criterion for the health of a growing child's body is the nitrogen balance. Its high level is provided by a high degree of absorption of proteins in the gastrointestinal tract of the child.

Lipid metabolism is regulated by the endocrine system and the central nervous system. Carbohydrate metabolism in children is much faster than in adults, due to the large expenditure of energy as a plastic and energy material in conditions of intensive growth and development.

The metabolism of a child up to a year is significantly accelerated. However, it often happens that it becomes difficult for a child's body to regulate its own metabolic process. There are many known causes of metabolic disorders in children, but most often such a failure occurs as a result of instability of the endocrine glands and the central nervous system. In addition, any disturbances in the metabolic process can be caused by a lack of nutrition culture when the baby starts to overeat, especially at night. Weak physical activity also often causes metabolic disorders in children.

Why do children have a metabolic disorder

Incorrect metabolism in a child is a serious violation that prevents normal development. Such a failure manifests itself at all levels of the biological system of the body, but it is most pronounced at the cellular level.

Symptoms of metabolic disorders in children can be different, since their manifestation depends on the level at which the failure occurred.

If children have a metabolic disorder due to an excess amount of protein, the following signs will help recognize deviations from the norm:

stool disorder - diarrhea or constipation;
loss of appetite or its complete absence;
development of kidney disease, renal failure;
a sharp increase or decrease in weight;
development of osteoporosis;
salt deposits.

Metabolic disorders in infants and adolescents

As a rule, such a metabolic disorder in an infant occurs as a result of an excess of protein-containing foods. A blood test will help confirm suspicions of a violation of protein metabolism - there is an increased amount of these substances in the plasma.

With a lack of protein in the body, metabolic disorders occur in children and adolescents, the following symptoms are observed:

puffiness;
weakness;
drowsiness;
acetonic smell of urine;
significant weight loss;
developmental delay;
intellect disorder.

Protein deficiency is a common cause of the development of many pathologies in the development of the child's body.

Parents can learn about a violation of fat metabolism, when they are not enough, in their child by symptoms such as:

exhaustion;
weight loss;
skin problems - rashes, peeling, inflammation;
hair loss.

Lipids perform important functions in our body - energy, thermoregulatory, protective, therefore, if their metabolism is disturbed, serious failures occur. Usually, a lack of fat is caused by an unbalanced diet, hereditary diseases and disorders in the digestive system.

Metabolic disorders in children on the background of obesity

The first signs of excess fat are a strong appetite and rapid weight gain. With an excess amount of lipids, such a metabolic disorder in children as obesity occurs. In addition to this disease, against the background of excess fat, the development of many other pathological processes becomes possible.

In a child, the following phenomena and processes are considered signs of a metabolic disorder, namely, carbohydrate metabolism:

violation of the metabolism of proteins and lipids;
drowsiness;
weight loss;
poor appetite.

As a rule, such a failure in the body can cause genetic diseases and starvation.

Metabolic diseases in children: the most common diseases

With improper metabolism of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and other substances, the development of many diseases becomes inevitable.

The most common metabolic diseases in children are:

Anemia- a pathological process that occurs against the background of a lack of protein and iron. To avoid this, from the first days of a baby's life, it is necessary to provide high-grade protein food.
Rickets- a metabolic disease in children that occurs with a deficiency of phosphorus and calcium. Rickets can also be caused by pathologies that prevent the absorption of calcium by the child's body. Calcium and phosphorus play a primary role in the formation and development of the bone and cartilage system of the human body. It is especially important to provide these substances to newborns and infants in the first months of life, when the formation of the bone and cartilage system occurs.
Tetany, or spasmophilia. This is another common metabolic disease in children, caused by a failure of phosphorus-calcium metabolism or an excess of calcium. You can recognize the development of spasmophilia by signs such as convulsions and spasms.
Amyloidosis- a pathological process caused by a failure of the physiological level of metabolism. Symptoms of the disease are damage to the kidney and heart muscles as a result of the deposition in muscle tissues of substances such as amyloids - structurally altered proteins.
hyperglycemia. It occurs against the background of latent diabetes mellitus in the child's body, when glucose metabolism is disturbed.
hypoglycemia- a pathological process, which is referred to in medicine as insulin shock. This pathology is associated with a low level of glucose in the child's blood. The cause of the development of the disease is severe stress or diabetes in the mother.
Obesity- This is one of the most common metabolic disorders in children and adolescents today. Its course adversely affects the work of the whole organism as a whole. The consequence of the course of obesity in childhood is a change in posture, curvature of the spine, serious psychological trauma, hormonal disorders, osteochondrosis, arthrosis, bulimia and anorexia.

How to improve metabolic disorders in children with hereditary diseases

Phenylketonuria- one of the most serious and dangerous pathologies that have arisen against the background of a violation of the metabolism of an aromatic alpha-amino acid, known as phenylalanine. This substance accumulates in the child's body and leads to damage to the central nervous system and a noticeable lag in the development of the baby. Phenylketonuria is diagnosed extremely rarely, since the pathological process is almost asymptomatic, the first signs of the disease can be detected closer to the second half of the newborn's life. This violation belongs to the number of hereditary metabolic diseases in children.

Among hereditary metabolic disorders in children, galactosemia, caused by a malfunction in carbohydrate metabolism, is also common. The disease manifests itself in the form of damage to the central nervous system, eyes, liver and other internal organs. The accumulation of an enzyme such as galactose-1-phosphate-uridyltransferase in the child's body leads to the occurrence of pathology. It can cause gastrointestinal disorders, cerebral edema, hypoglycemia, anemia. A long-term dairy-free diet will help improve the metabolism in children with this disorder.

What to do if a child has a metabolic disorder, how to restore and speed it up

Having found some signs of a failure in the multilevel metabolic process, you should visit a specialist's office and find out what to do if your child has a metabolic disorder. After laboratory tests and confirmation of the diagnosis, as a rule, doctors prescribe hormonal drugs to small patients that normalize metabolism at the level where the failure occurred.

It also becomes necessary to take vitamin and mineral complexes according to the scheme prescribed by the doctor. Almost always, in the treatment of metabolic disorders in children, enzymes are used that neutralize the effect of hyaluronic acid.

With obesity, it is important to speed up the metabolism in a child. To do this, you must follow a diet compiled by a specialist. Such a diet, aimed at accelerating metabolism, consists of a large amount of fruits, especially citrus fruits. In the diet of an obese child, there should also be a complete protein - beef and lean pork. Among the drugs for the treatment of this disease, Strumel T can be used, but only as directed by a specialist.

Metabolism in children is different from adults (age-related features). The child's body grows and develops all the time, therefore it requires a high-quality composition of food for growth. Toddlers and children especially need protein for muscle building. The quality of the protein depends on what will be the overall development as a whole. Metabolic disorders in children often affect protein.

There are three main problems that contribute to a slow metabolism:

False hunger. The child consumes sweet high-calorie foods and carbonated drinks, which contribute to a sharp jump in insulin in the blood. The body tries to distribute sugar in a short time and converts it into fat. Sugar drops sharply again, and the brain again requires energy from food, a feeling of false hunger arises.
Disruption of the digestive tract. If the body cannot break down fat and turn it into energy, then it accumulates in different parts of the body. Lack of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, their lack of activity contribute to this process.
Lack of exercise, which develops when the child is not mobile, does not engage in active games, spends most of the time at the computer or TV. The significance of this factor is especially great if the child eats a lot of improper food, and also rarely eats, but in large quantities.

A growing body needs a large amount of fluid and vitamins for a proper and fast metabolism. As well as regular meals throughout the day.

General concept of metabolic processes

Metabolism and energy, or metabolism, are processes in the body that decompose and remove waste products of vital activity and break down other substances necessary for the body to enter the bloodstream. Processes can be divided into two threads:

Destructive - catabolism. Breaking down complex substances into simple ones and converting them into energy.
Creative - anabolism. Accumulation and conservation of reserves in the body.

In a calm state of the body, all processes proceed in the background and do not expend much energy. During sleep, energy is expended in a small amount. In a state of movement and stress, metabolic processes in the body are accelerated. Metabolism involves not only the digestive processes, but also the whole coordinated work of the body as a whole. This is the ratio of how much what enters the body through food, air and liquid is converted into energy. The main one on this list is food. How efficiently food components are broken down and converted into energy and waste products that are excreted from the body is the essence of metabolism.

If food is broken down quickly and converted into useful substances, then this indicates the correct functioning of the body. Such a person, as a rule, will not suffer from excess weight or problems with the removal of toxic waste. An accelerated metabolism entails the burning of energy and calories, as well as the constant breakdown of subcutaneous fat. A slow metabolism accumulates toxic substances and metabolic products, in particular fat, and slows down the work of the whole organism.

Factors Affecting Metabolism

The speed and efficiency of metabolism depends on a number of factors.

The energy generated during metabolism is spent on:

Maintaining body temperature
physical activity
Construction of important components of the body.

Based on this list, it is clear which aspects of life suffer due to improper and slow metabolism.

Visible signs of slow functioning of the body

Parents should be able to identify the symptoms of metabolic disorders in children, such as:

Overweight. The most obvious sign of a violation of the child's body.
Rare chair. If the child goes to the toilet less often than it should (once every 2 days), this indicates a slow metabolism.
Large amounts of food. The child eats a lot, but is constantly hungry.
Dry skin, brittle nails and hair.
Problems with teeth, a sharp deterioration in their condition and destruction of enamel.
Edema, indicating water retention in the body.
Pimples and blackheads on the forehead, nose, back.

All of these symptoms of a slow metabolism have their own underlying reason. The causes of metabolic disorders in children are as follows:

Consumption of poor quality food and "gastronomic garbage" that replaces a full meal. Food in the form of dry snacks, sweet soda, fast food entails unpleasant consequences for the child's body.
Insufficient amount of water in the body.
The child leads a passive lifestyle. Spends more than 50% of the time in a sitting position without activity.
Wrong diet. If the child does not eat during the day and eats only in the evening, this will affect his well-being. Similarly, infrequent meals affect metabolism.

Consequences

The consequences of the fact that the metabolism of a child is disturbed are ambiguous. These include:

Avitaminosis is one of the most common types of metabolic diseases. The body does not receive the required amount of vitamins due to the impossibility of their splitting (malabsorption syndrome).
Slowdown of the thyroid gland. If the body does not get enough iodine due to malabsorption, this affects the production of hormones.
Obesity. A common problem caused by slow catabolism. Non-digestible fat is deposited in the body.

Most often, metabolic diseases in the body of a child are the fault of the parents. The child cannot control his diet on his own. Adults are obliged to accustom him to the right lifestyle and food, monitor his snacks and activity regimen.

Careless attitude towards your own child entails unpleasant consequences for him.

Ways to solve the problem

Any changes in the metabolic processes of the body require adjustment. Treatment of impaired metabolism in a child requires parental control over the mode of activity and nutrition of children.

First of all, “gastronomic garbage” and harmful drinks should be excluded from the child’s diet.

Also follows:

Stop eating salty, fried, smoked and fatty foods.
Steam or grill food.
Meals should consist of quality poultry, fish or meat protein and fresh vegetables.
The child should receive fiber. It promotes the rapid digestion of food.
Water balance must be observed.
Meals are timely and frequent, at least five times a day.
Watch your portion. If the child is overweight, the portion should be gradually reduced and brought to half.
Increase physical activity.
Active walks, games, gymnastics and swimming, hourly mode at the computer and TV.

This is the minimum a parent can do. After consultation with a pediatrician, preparations with beneficial bacteria for the intestines, fermented milk products are prescribed. In case of reflection of metabolism on the thyroid gland, an endocrinologist is visited. The intake of vitamins required for the body is prescribed.

Age and metabolism

Metabolism has age characteristics. In an adult, much less energy is expended than in a small growing organism. The younger the age, the more energy is required. A large amount of energy requires a qualitative composition of the products consumed by the body. This is especially true for protein.

The metabolism of children differs significantly from that of an adult. Even Hippocrates noted that "... a growing organism has the greatest amount of natural warmth and therefore requires food most of all." Indeed, in conditions of intensive growth, the child's body for normal life requires relatively more plastic substances and energy, the formation of which occurs as a result of the exchange of organic compounds that come with food. Consequently, the energy and oxidative processes in the child's body are more intense, as evidenced by the indicators of basal metabolism, the value of which depends on the age and constitution of the person, the intensity of growth and metabolism of tissues, as well as other factors. In children of all ages, especially in the first years of life, the basal metabolic rate is much higher than in adults. A significant amount of energy is naturally spent on the processes of assimilation and growth. It is also necessary to note the imperfection of the regulation of metabolic processes due to age, both from the side of the central nervous system and endocrine glands, and from the side of neurohumoral mechanisms. All this determines the instability and relatively easy onset of metabolic disorders in children.

Along with the indicated general features in childhood, there is also a peculiarity of each of the main types of metabolism - protein, carbohydrate, fat. Knowing them makes it possible to correctly navigate in the nutrition of children in the first months and years of life, as well as pathology caused by metabolic disorders, which is often based on genetically determined diseases.

Protein exchange. Proteins are the main plastic material for building human tissues, they are involved in the synthesis of a number of hormones, enzymes, immune bodies, in maintaining the balance of acids and bases.

metabolism in children. Due to vigorous growth, the formation of new cells and tissues, the need for proteins in children is much higher than in an adult, and the more significant the younger the child. At the expense of proteins, 10-15% of the calories of the daily diet should be covered. Vigorously ongoing plastic processes explain the fact that the nitrogen balance in young children is positive, while older children and adults have a nitrogen balance.

For the proper growth and development of the child, not only the quantity, but also the quality of the protein introduced with food is important. The amino acids formed from it in the process of digestion, being absorbed into the blood, must be absorbed. It is from them that the protein of the tissues of the child's body is then synthesized, the properties of the synthesized protein are controlled by genes.

Fat and lipid metabolism. Fats and fat-like substances are complex organic compounds that differ significantly from each other in structure and functional significance. Fat serves as one of the main sources of energy. In the first half of life, about 50% of the total daily calorie content is covered by fats, in children from 6 months to 4 years - 30-40%, in school-age children - 25-30%, in adults - about 40%, which determines a relatively large the need for it.

The regulation of fat metabolism is carried out by neurohumoral mechanisms. The leading role is played by the central nervous system, which through the food center affects the digestive organs and stimulates appetite. Insulin, thyroid hormones (thyroxine), sex glands and adrenal cortex (corticosteroids) have a versatile effect on fat metabolism. Insulin promotes the transition of sugar into glycogen and fat, causes hypoglycemia and thereby excites the food center. In addition, it inhibits the formation of carbohydrates from fats, prevents the release of fat from the depot. Thyroxine enhances basal metabolism, causing the breakdown of fats. Reduced function of the gonads causes obesity. Corticosteroids increase the conversion of carbohydrates into fats.

The most common pathology of fat metabolism in children is excessive fat deposition (obesity) due to various reasons (overfeeding, dysfunction of the endocrine glands, cerebral origin). Violations of the opposite nature are also possible, accompanied by emaciation, which is often the result of a feverish state with anorexia and malabsorption. The cause of emaciation in children can be hyperthyroidism, neuropathy, lipodystrophy, etc.

The exchange of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates in the human body are both in a free state and in connection with proteins, fats and other substances. They perform very important and diverse functions, the main of which is energy. Due to the combustion of carbohydrates in infants, about 40% of daily calories are covered, this percentage increases with age. In older schoolchildren, more than 50% of all the necessary energy is formed from carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are also a plastic material, being part of the main substance of the connective tissue in the form of mucopolysaccharides. In the first months of life, the child receives carbohydrates in the form of breast milk disaccharides (lactose), and later - cane and milk sugars contained in food, starch, which breaks down in the mouth and stomach to maltose. Disaccharides have a relatively higher energy value and lower osmolarity compared to starch and other sugars, which is optimal for the absorption of nutrients. Carbohydrate metabolism in children is characterized by high intensity. Increased energy costs in connection with the growth and formation of the child's body determine its high need for carbohydrates, especially since the synthesis of the latter from proteins and fats in children is relatively low.

Metabolism and energy is the basis of the life processes of the body. In the human body, in its organs, tissues, cells, there is a continuous process of synthesis, i.e., the formation of complex substances from simpler ones. At the same time, there is a breakdown, oxidation of complex organic substances that make up the cells of the body.

The growth and renewal of body cells is possible only if oxygen and nutrients are continuously supplied to the body. Nutrients are exactly the building and plastic material from which the body is built.

For continuous renewal, building new cells of the body, the work of its organs and systems - the heart, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory apparatus, kidneys and others, a person needs energy to do work. A person receives this energy during decay and oxidation in the process of metabolism. Consequently, the nutrients entering the body serve not only as a plastic building material, but also as a source of energy necessary for the normal functioning of the body.

Thus, metabolism is understood as a set of changes that substances undergo from the moment they enter the digestive tract and until the formation of final decay products excreted from the body.

Anabolism and catabolism. Metabolism, or metabolism, is a finely coordinated process of interaction between two mutually