Hormone-Sensitive Lipase

Hormone-sensitive lipase is described as the enzyme inside fat cells that unlocks stored triglycerides for release. Hormone-sensitive lipase enables triglycerides to leave fat cells as free fatty acids. When hormone-sensitive lipase is suppressed, triglycerides are not released into circulation and stored fat remains inaccessible. Without active HSL, the body burns glucose and glycogen before stored belly fat. Glucagon activates HSL during the 12-to-16-hour phase of fasting. Low baseline insulin after liver glycogen depletion allows hormone-sensitive lipase to operate with less suppression. During fasting, hormone-sensitive lipase releases fatty acids while lipophagy breaks down stored lipids internally.