Bron Adipose Tissue is Metabolically Active

Byron's Comments:

Proof that brown adipose tissue disposes of calories via activation of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1)

Study Title:

Functional Brown Adipose Tissue in Healthy Adults

Study Abstract:

Using positron-emission tomography (PET), we found that cold-induced glucose uptake was increased by a factor of 15 in paracervical and supraclavicular adipose tissue in five healthy subjects. We obtained biopsy specimens of this tissue from the first three consecutive subjects and documented messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels of the brown-adipocyte marker, uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). Together with morphologic assessment, which showed numerous multilocular, intracellular lipid droplets, and with the results of biochemical analysis, these findings document the presence of substantial amounts of metabolically active brown adipose tissue in healthy adult humans.

Study Information:

Kirsi A. Virtanen, Martin E. Lidell, Janne Orava, Mikael Heglind, Rickard Westergren, Tarja Niemi, Markku Taittonen, Jukka Laine, Nina-Johanna Savisto, Sven Enerbäck, and Pirjo Nuutila. Functional Brown Adipose Tissue in Healthy Adults NEJM  2009 April  Volume 360:1518-1525, Number 15
Turku PET Center, University of Turku and the Departments of Surgery, Anesthesiology, Pathology, and Medicine, Turku University Hospital — both in Turku, Finland.

My cart is empty.   View Cart |  Login

• How Protein Helps Weight Loss

• The Five Rules of The Leptin Diet

• The Facts on Magnesium Stearate

• What is Leptin?

• Taking Q10 for a Test Drive – Is Ubiquinol Better?