The Role of the Skin in Carbohydrate Metabolism

This chapter provides an overview of the role of the skin in carbohydrate metabolism. The skin is a relatively large organ, which constitutes about 10% of the normal body weight. The major portion of the skin mass consists of dermis, which, in turn contains a large extracellular space. The metabolically active portion of skin, epidermis, derives much of its energy from the energetically inefficient process of anaerobic glycolysis. Consequently, skin converts large amounts of glucose to lactate that is discharged into the blood. Although skin exhibits features of carbohydrate metabolism other than utilization and turnover of glucose, these functions are of little quantitative importance in overall carbohydrate balance. The red blood cell, because of its ready availability, is useful in the study of metabolic disturbances, particularly in man whose internal tissues are usually not accessible for investigational purposes. Although skin relies heavily on glycolysis for its energy needs, the tissue displays most of the metabolic pathways that are observed in other organs.