How insulin helps muscles take in energy
ERK1/2 Mediates Insulin Stimulation of Na,K-ATPase by Phosphorylation of the α-Subunit in Human Skeletal Muscle Cells*
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Insulin tells muscle cells to move special pumps to their surface so they can work better. These pumps help bring in nutrients and keep the cell charged, like a battery.
No biological mechanisms were identified in this study. This may be an epidemiological, observational, or survey-based study that reports associations rather than proposing causal biological pathways.
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Evidence Score
A snapshot of a population at a single point in time. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine the direction of cause and effect.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Insulin tells muscle cells to move special pumps to their surface so they can work better. These pumps help bring in nutrients and keep the cell charged, like a battery.
No biological mechanisms were identified in this study. This may be an epidemiological, observational, or survey-based study that reports associations rather than proposing causal biological pathways.
Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
Max 100Randomized Controlled Trials
Max 90Cohort Studies
Max 72Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional Studies
Max 44Case Reports & Case Series
Max 30Expert Opinion & Narrative Reviews
Max 53 / 44
Evidence Score
A snapshot of a population at a single point in time. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine the direction of cause and effect.
Publication
Authors
Al-Khalili L, Kotova O, Tsuchida H, Ehrén I, Féraille E, Krook A, Chibalin AV
Related Content
Claims (5)
When insulin is present, it tells muscle cells to pump more sodium and potassium around, which creates a better environment for the cell to pull in more creatine — a compound that helps muscles store energy.
Insulin helps muscles pull in more creatine by boosting a cellular pump that creates the right conditions for creatine to get inside.
Insulin helps move certain proteins to the surface of human muscle cells and boosts their activity, and this seems to involve a specific cellular signaling process.
When a certain protein in human muscle cells is blocked, insulin can't turn on or move a key cellular pump that helps muscles work properly.
When insulin acts on human muscle cells, it turns on a switch (ERK1/2) that helps modify a specific protein (the sodium-potassium pump) at certain spots—this has been seen in lab tests using drugs and purified enzymes.