In recent years, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism disorders resulting from inadequate exercise or unbalanced nutrition could induce hyperlipidemia, diabetes and other lipid metabolism disorders by regulating signal pathways including transcription factors [the sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP-1) and liver X receptors (LXR) and several enzymes including ATP-citrate lyase (ACL), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid synthase (FAS)], antioxidant metabolism such as nuclear factor-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) and inflammation e.g. nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) [2,14]. The gene discussed is ACLY; the disease is diabetes mellitus.