Overview
Submission Instructions
Recent Publications
Frequently Asked Questions
Research Topics
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Nature Metabolism is a Nature Portfolio journal publishing research, reviews, analysis, news and comment in metabolism and related biomedical fields, including areas such as obesity, diabetes, ageing, liver biology, muscle biology, cancer metabolism and cardiometabolic disease.
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Subject
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Impact Factor
20.8
Quartile
Q1
Open Access Type
Hybrid
eISSN
2522-5812
Invitation Only
No
Cost Range
Non-primary articles marked with an asterisk are not eligible for Open Access and can only be published using the subscription-based publishing route.
Submission Instructions
Nature Metabolism accepts the following article types. Click on an article type to view submission instructions.
Article
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required. Cover letter should explain the importance of the work and its suitability for the journal’s diverse readership, state any prior discussions with an editor, and include all authors’ affiliations and contact information if double-blind peer review is chosen.
Abstract
An abstract is required. Abstract must be up to 150 words. Abstract must be unstructured and unreferenced.
Manuscript
Main text must be up to 5,000 words, excluding the abstract, Methods, references and figure legends. Article should be divided into Introduction without a heading, Results, Discussion, and Methods, with topical subheadings in Results and Methods but not in Discussion. Manuscript may include supplementary information and must document any use of a large language model in the Methods section or another suitable part of the manuscript if no Methods section is available.
References
References are typically recommended up to 50. References must be numerical. References must be numbered sequentially and include the titles of cited articles, with Methods references continuing the numbering from the main text if present.
Figures & Tables
Display items are limited to 8 figures and/or tables, with up to 10 additional Extended Data figures permitted. Tables must be included at the end of the text document, while complex tables may be submitted separately as an Excel file. All figures must be cited in sequence in the main text and each figure legend must include a brief title and a short sequential description of each panel.
Letter
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required. Cover letter should explain the importance of the work, explain its suitability for the journal's diverse readership, state whether there were prior discussions with an editor, and include all authors' affiliations and contact information if double-blind peer review is chosen.
Abstract
Letters do not have a separate abstract and must instead begin with a referenced introductory paragraph. The introductory paragraph must be no more than 200 words. The abstract-like opening must be an unstructured introductory paragraph. The introductory paragraph must summarize the background, rationale, main results and implications.
Manuscript
Main text must be up to 2,500 words excluding the introductory paragraph, Methods, references and figure legends. Letters must begin with a referenced introductory paragraph and must not be divided by headings except for Methods headings. Use of a large language model must be documented in the Methods section or, if no Methods section is available, in another suitable part of the manuscript.
References
References are typically recommended up to 40. References must be numbered sequentially and titles of cited articles are required.
Figures & Tables
Letters must include 2–4 display items and may contain up to 10 additional Extended Data Figures. Tables must be included at the end of the text document.
Review Articles
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required. Cover letter must explain the importance of the work and why it is appropriate for the journal's diverse readership, and must state whether there have been prior discussions with an editor about the manuscript.
Abstract
Abstract requirements are not specified.
Manuscript
Manuscript file must include sufficient description of findings with methods and materials to enable replication, and review articles must not include original unpublished research findings beyond minimal new supporting data. Use of a large language model must be documented in the Methods section or, if no Methods section is available, in another suitable part of the manuscript.
References
References must be numbered sequentially. Reference entries must include article titles, only one publication per reference, and be ordered by first citation across the main text, methods, tables, figure legends, box, and extended data figures.
Figures & Tables
A maximum of 10 Extended Data display items is permitted. Tables must be included at the end of the text document, although complex tables may be submitted separately as an Excel file.
Original Research Papers
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required. Cover letter should explain the importance of the work and why it is appropriate for the diverse readership of Nature Metabolism, and if double-blind peer review is chosen it must include the affiliation and contact information for all authors.
Abstract
Abstract requirements are not specified.
Manuscript
Manuscript must include a Methods section containing all elements necessary to allow interpretation and replication of the results. Use of a large language model must be properly documented in the Methods section or, if a Methods section is not available, in a suitable alternative part of the manuscript.
References
References must be numbered sequentially in the order of Main Text, Methods, Tables, Figure Legends, Box and Extended Data Figures, with Methods-only references continuing from the main text numbering.
Figures & Tables
A maximum of ten Extended Data display items is permitted. Tables must be included at the end of the text document, although complex tables may be submitted as a separate Excel file.
Primary Research Articles
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required. Cover letter should explain the importance of the work and its suitability for the diverse readership of Nature Metabolism, state whether there were prior discussions with a Nature Metabolism editor, and include all authors' affiliation and contact information if double-blind peer review is chosen.
Abstract
Abstract requirements are not specified.
Manuscript
Manuscript must include a detailed description of the findings with sufficient methods and materials to enable replication, and it must include Methods, Figures and Extended Data if applicable. Use of a large language model must be properly documented in the Methods section or, if no Methods section is available, in a suitable alternative part of the manuscript.
References
References must be numerical. References must be numbered sequentially in the order of Main Text, Methods, Data Availability Section, Tables, Figure Legends, Box and Extended Data Figures, with only one publication per reference.
Figures & Tables
A maximum of 10 Extended Data display items or figures is permitted. Tables must be included at the end of the text document, although complex tables may be submitted as a separate Excel file.
Brief Communication
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required. Cover letter should explain the importance of the work and why it suits the journal’s diverse readership, and if double-blind review is chosen it must include all authors’ affiliations and contact information.
Abstract
An abstract is required. Abstract must be 3 sentences and no more than 70 words. Abstract must be unstructured and unreferenced. Abstract must not contain headings.
Manuscript
Main text must be 1,000–1,500 words including the abstract, references, and figure legends. Manuscript must contain no headings and should include an online Methods section. Use of a large language model must be documented in the Methods section or another suitable part of the manuscript if no Methods section is available.
References
References are typically recommended up to 20. References must be numbered sequentially and article titles must be omitted from the reference list.
Figures & Tables
Display items are limited to 2, although this may be flexible at the editor’s discretion if the page limit is observed. Tables must be included at the end of the text document.
Resource
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required. The cover letter should explain the importance of the work and why it is appropriate for the diverse readership of Nature Metabolism.
Abstract
An abstract is required. Abstract must be 100-150 words. Abstract must be unstructured and unreferenced.
Manuscript
Main text must be up to 5,000 words, excluding abstract, online Methods, references and figure legends. Resource articles must be divided into Introduction without a heading, Results, Discussion, and Online Methods, with topical subheadings in Results and Online Methods and no subheadings in the Discussion. Use of a large language model must be properly documented in the Methods section or, if a Methods section is not available, in a suitable alternative part of the manuscript.
References
References are typically recommended up to 50. References must be numbered sequentially in the order of Main Text, Methods, Data Availability Section, Tables, Figure Legends, Box and Extended Data Figures, with only one publication given for each reference.
Figures & Tables
Display items are limited to 8 figures and/or tables, and a maximum of 10 Extended Data display items is permitted. Tables must be included at the end of the text document.
Correspondence
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required. Cover letter should explain the importance of the work, explain its suitability for the journal’s diverse readership, state whether there were prior discussions with an editor, and include all authors’ affiliation and contact information if double-blind peer review is chosen.
Abstract
Abstract requirements are not specified.
Manuscript
Correspondence must be 200–500 words. Main text must start with “To the Editor – ”.
References
References are limited to 10. References must be numbered sequentially and article titles are omitted from the reference list.
Figures & Tables
Display items are limited to 1 item. Tables must be included at the end of the text document.
Consensus Statement
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required. The cover letter should explain the importance of the work and why it is appropriate for the diverse readership of Nature Metabolism.
Abstract
Abstract requirements are not specified.
Manuscript
The manuscript file must include Methods if applicable and contain a detailed description of the findings with sufficient information on methods and materials to enable replication by a fellow expert. Use of a large language model must be properly documented in the Methods section or, if a Methods section is not available, in a suitable alternative part of the manuscript.
References
References must be numbered sequentially. References must be ordered by first citation through the Main Text, Methods, Tables, Figure Legends, Box and Extended Data Figures, with only one publication listed per reference.
Figures & Tables
A maximum of ten Extended Data display items is permitted. Tables must be included at the end of the text document, while complex tables may be submitted as a separate Excel file. All figures must be cited in sequence in the main text, and each figure legend must include a brief title and short description of each panel cited in sequence.
Recent Publications
Metabolism as the biochemical language for mechanistic biomedical AI
Li Li, Yujue Wang, Chengju Luo, Zhiyuan Tang, Zeping Hu
10.1038/s42255-026-01546-4
View Publication
Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome — a new name for an old problem
Pawel Kordowitzki, Helena Teede
10.1038/s42255-026-01552-6
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Glycogen drives the sensory activation of POMC neurons
Alicia G. Gómez-Valadés, David Meseguer, Luís Varela, Gabriele Lienhard, Uxía Fernández, Andrés Vidal-Itriago, Miriam Toledo, Elena Eyre, Berta Laudo, Francisco Díaz-Castro, Macarena Pozo, Mehdi Boutagouga Boudjadja, Júlia Fos-Domènech, Pau García-Ramón, Mariana Ferreira, Jordi Altirriba, Daniel Beiroa, Bandy Chen, Amanda Rodríguez-Díaz, Maria Milà-Guasch, Iñigo Chivite, Arnaud Obri, Sara Ramírez, Roberta Haddad-Tóvolli, Iasim Tahiri, Mathew S. Gentry, Giuseppe D’Agostino, Rubén Nogueiras, Nicolas Renier, Tamas L. Horvath, Joan J. Guinovart, Jordi Duran, Marc Schneeberger, Marc Claret
10.1038/s42255-026-01535-7
View Publication
Neuronal glycogen powers anticipatory brain responses to food
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10.1038/s42255-026-01536-6
View Publication
Glycerol is a new ally for heat production and bone health
Ambre M. Bertholet
10.1038/s42255-026-01545-5
View Publication
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to publish?
swift publication
Reformat to Nature Metabolism using Livewrite PremiumIs a cover letter required?
A cover letter is required. It should explain the importance of the work and why it is appropriate for the diverse readership of Nature Metabolism, disclose related manuscripts under consideration or in press elsewhere, note any prior discussions with an editor, include author affiliation and contact information for double-blind peer review submissions, and may optionally suggest or exclude reviewers.
Reformat to Nature Metabolism using Livewrite PremiumWhat are the publication costs?
Non-primary articles marked with an asterisk are not eligible for Open Access and can only be published using the subscription-based publishing route.
Reformat to Nature Metabolism using Livewrite PremiumResearch Topics
Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
Diet and metabolism studies
Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
Pancreatic function and diabetes
Cancer, Hypoxia, and Metabolism
Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
Metabolism, Diabetes, and Cancer
Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
Metabolomics and Mass Spectrometry Studies
Gut microbiota and health
Immune cells in cancer
Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
Diabetes and associated disorders
RNA modifications and cancer
Lipid metabolism and biosynthesis
Immune Cell Function and Interaction
Diet, Metabolism, and Disease
Metabolism and Genetic Disorders
Dietary Effects on Health
Diabetes Treatment and Management
Autophagy in Disease and Therapy
Muscle metabolism and nutrition
Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques
Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms