Brown fat can potentially prevent the onset of diabetes and obesity, a new research shows.
The study by University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, found that people with more levels of brown fat, aka brown adipose tissue, are able to regulate blood sugar, have higher insulin sensitivity and better metabolism for burning fat stores.
Researchers explained that in human beings, two types of fat tissues are available. They are the white fat tissue and the brown fat tissue. More white fat tissue results in lowered insulin sensitivity leading to diabetes.
However, brown fat is beneficial in protecting against obesity and diabetes. "We showed that exposure to mild cold raised whole body energy expenditure, increased glucose removal from the circulation and improved insulin sensitivity in men who have significant amounts of brown adipose tissue depots," stated UTMB's Labros Sidossis, professor of Internal Medicine in a press release. "These results support the notion that brown adipose tissue may function as an anti-obesity and anti-diabetic tissue in humans."
For the study, the researchers examined healthy men with high or low levels of brown fat tissue on their resting energy expenditure, usage of glucose and insulin sensitivity. They were placed either in normal temperature conditions or were exposed to mildly cold temperatures for nearly 5 to 8 hours.
The researchers also conducted comprehensive analysis of bodily samples. They collected blood and breath samples to check the changes in glucose and insulin concentration, hormone changes and whole body oxygen consumption as well the rate at which carbon dioxide was produced.
The team examined brown and white fat tissue samples to assess the differences in cellular energy production and gene expression. "In this study we show that, when activated via mild cold exposure, brown adipose tissue can increase energy expenditure and burn calories. This is good news for overweight and obese people," stated Sidossis. "Of even greater clinical significance may be the finding that brown fat can help the body regulate blood sugar more effectively. This is great news for people with insulin resistance and diabetes and suggests that brown fat may prove to be an important anti-diabetic tissue."
The study was published in the journal Diabetes.
