Fig. 1

Diagram of energy metabolism alterations, detection, and therapeutics. a Energy metabolic alterations accompany a variety of diseases, which include increased energy demands and shifts in energy production pathways, ultimately leading to mitochondrial dysfunction-based metabolic disorders that cause functional abnormalities or cell death in normal cells. b Detection methods for altered energy metabolism encompass established spectroscopic assays, as well as advanced imaging techniques such as MRI and PET/CT, and the burgeoning field of metabolomics, including spatial omics technologies. c Pharmacological interventions targeting changes in energy metabolism are directed at multiple stages of metabolic pathways, including glycolysis, fatty acid oxidation and mitochondrial oxidation, to ameliorate abnormal energy metabolic shifts