Brown Fat
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Dr. Rhonda Patrick answers audience questions on various health, nutrition, and science topics in this Q&A session.
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Rhonda Ketosis Heart Disease Omega-3 Fasting Pregnancy Eyes Muscle Sauna Protein Dairy Intestinal Permeability Brown Fat Moringa SupplementsDr. Rhonda Patrick answers audience questions on various health, nutrition, and science topics in this Q&A session.
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Chronic cold exposure reduces tumor growth by 80 percent and doubles survival rates in mice. www.newscientist.com
Cancer treatments often target glucose uptake to impede tumor growth, primarily through pharmaceuticals, many of which exert considerable side effects. However, cold exposure is emerging as a potential alternative to these drug-based therapies. A recent study in mice found that cold exposure reduced tumor growth by 80 percent and increased survival rates twofold.
Researchers conducted a two-part study in mice and humans. First, they exposed mice with cancer to cold (4°C, 39°F) or thermoneutral (30°C, 86°F) temperatures for about three weeks. They found that the cold exposure activated the animals' brown fat, depleting the energy supply available to the tumors. The cold-exposed mice exhibited marked tumor growth inhibition and a nearly twofold increase in survival rates relative to the thermoneutral mice. Interestingly, when they fed the cold-exposed mice a high-glucose diet, the animals did not experience the same extent of tumor growth inhibition, suggesting that glucose scarcity was pivotal in suppressing cancer growth.
In the second part of the study, they exposed healthy people to cool temperatures (16°C, 61°F) for two to six hours per day for 14 days and found that the participants experienced brown fat activation similar to the mice. Then, they exposed a person with Hodgkin’s lymphoma to cool (22°C, 71°F) temperatures for seven days and found that the participant exhibited activated brown fat and their tumor showed diminished glucose consumption, suggesting the findings in mice translate to humans.
These findings suggest that cold exposure activates brown fat, reducing blood glucose and impeding tumor growth. Brown fat is a thermogenic (heat-producing) tissue. Studies in animals and humans suggest that brown fat can improve glucose and insulin sensitivity, increase fat oxidation, and protect against diet-induced obesity. Cold exposure increases brown fat volume and metabolism and drives glucose uptake. Learn more about cold exposure and its effects on brown fat in our overview article.
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Brown fat is linked with lower risk of some chronic diseases. www.sciencedaily.com
Obesity, or having excess body fat, is a known risk factor for a wide range of diseases, including diabetes, cancer, and dementia. Findings from a new study indicate that having brown fat is linked with lower risk of some chronic diseases.
Brown fat, also known as brown adipose tissue, is found in all mammals and is particularly abundant in newborns. Unlike white fat, brown fat is a metabolically active tissue that is rich in mitochondria. It helps maintain body temperature during cold exposure, during which its uptake of glucose is eightfold higher than that of muscle tissues.
The authors of the retrospective case-control investigation reviewed imaging reports from more than 52,000 adults who had undergone diagnostic positron emission tomography (PET) scans (nearly 135,000 total scans). They also reviewed the participants' health records.
The PET scans revealed that nearly 10 percent of the study participants had detectable brown fat. Those who had brown fat were less likely to have type 2 diabetes, abnormal lipid levels, coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, congestive heart failure, and hypertension. They were also more likely to have favorable blood glucose, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein levels. These effects were greatest in people who had obesity or overweight. The authors suggested that having brown fat might counteract some of the harmful effects of obesity.
These findings indicate that brown fat may protect against some diseases and suggest that adopting lifestyle behaviors that promote production of brown fat, such as exercise or cold exposure, may be beneficial. Some nutrients and bioactive compounds, such as curcumin, capsaicin, resveratrol, and omega-3 fatty acids, may increase brown fat production, too.