Metabolic Adaptations to Exercise: Mechanisms, Modulators, and Health Impacts
A special issue of Metabolites (ISSN 2218-1989). This special issue belongs to the section "Endocrinology and Clinical Metabolic Research".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026
Special Issue Editors
2. Physical Activity and Performance Institute, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
Interests: exercise nutrition; energy metabolism; exercise
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
2. Physical Activity and Performance Institute, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
Interests: energy metabolism; obesity; exercise; exrcise nutrition
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Regular physical activity is one of the most powerful non-pharmacological strategies for improving metabolic health across the lifespan. Exercise induces dynamic and multifaceted metabolic adaptations in multiple tissues, including skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, the liver, and the cardiovascular system. These adaptations are orchestrated by complex networks of molecular signals, involving nutrient sensing pathways, mitochondrial remodeling, endocrine factors, immune–metabolic crosstalk, and substrate utilization shifts. Despite substantial progress, many aspects of exercise-induced metabolic regulation remain incompletely understood, particularly regarding the modulators that influence inter-individual variability in metabolic outcomes.
This Special Issue aims to provide an integrative platform to advance our understanding of how exercise reshapes metabolic physiology at molecular, cellular, organ-specific, and systemic levels. We welcome studies that explore mechanistic insights into energy metabolism, mitochondrial biogenesis, metabolic flexibility, glucose and lipid regulation, lactate signaling, inflammation, and redox balance. Research that investigates modulatory factors such as diet, environmental conditions, circadian rhythms, sex differences, age, training status, or disease states is particularly encouraged, as these factors play critical roles in shaping metabolic responses to exercise.
Both experimental and clinical contributions are invited, including original research articles, reviews, and methodological advances using metabolomics, multi-omics integration, animal models, human interventions, and translational approaches. By bringing together diverse perspectives, this Special Issue seeks to clarify how exercise can be optimized to prevent metabolic disorders, enhance performance, and promote long-term health. Ultimately, the findings compiled here will contribute to a deeper understanding of exercise as a metabolic modulator and support the development of targeted strategies for personalized metabolic health.
Prof. Dr. Kiwon Lim
Dr. Jisu Kim
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Metabolites is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- exercise metabolism
- metabolic adaptations
- mitochondrial function
- metabolic flexibility
- energy substrate utilization
- exercise-induced remodeling
- skeletal muscle metabolism
- metabolomics and multi-omics approaches
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