Energy Ratios Unlocked

This study highlights how key biochemical ratios—ATP/ADP and NADH/NAD⁺—adjust in response to lifestyle and glucagon-like peptide -1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist intervention. Students explored how an active lifestyle lowers ATP and NADH, indicating energy demands and driving glycolysis, the TCA cycle, and the electron transport chain. In contrast, a sedentary lifestyle leads to an energy surplus, elevating ATP and NADH, slowing metabolism, and promoting fat storage. Nutrient overload from inactivity can be countered using GLP-1 agonists that indirectly rebalance energy carriers to promote a more active metabolic state. Spring 2024 students compared how their activity levels influenced ratios of the metabolic carriers through a poster project, while Spring 2025 students further investigated GLP-1 receptor agonists using a case-study based problem set. These approaches helped students connect molecular mechanisms to lifestyle and clinical outcomes.