Metabolic alterations refer to changes in the chemical reactions and processes that occur within the cells of an organism. This can involve disruptions in how cells metabolize nutrients, produce energy, and regulate various metabolic pathways. These alterations can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetic mutations, environmental influences, and diseases such as diabetes or cancer. Studying metabolic alterations is important for understanding how these changes impact overall health and disease development, and can lead to the development of new treatment strategies.