People with "active" brown fat in their bodies are significantly less likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes , high blood pressure , and psychiatric conditions such as depression and anxiety , according to groundbreaking research. In a study of more than 100,000 participants – the largest of its kind – scientists found a direct link between active brown fat deposits and reduced risks across a range of metabolic, cardiovascular, and mental health disorders. Tucked around the neck, armpits, and chest, brown fat is a tissue packed with a specialised protein that can bypass the body’s normal energy storage.
Unlike white fat, which stores excess calories, brown fat acts in reverse, pulling sugar and fatty acids directly from the bloodstream, meaning that brown fat actually burns other types of body fat . Researchers have found that higher levels of brown fat are linked to lower levels of disorders, including depression and anxiety This process, where brown fat begins to burn white fat, can be activated by exposure to cold, physical exercise and certain hormones. While long known to keep newborns warm before they can shiver, brown fat was previously thought to vanish after infancy until late in 2009, when a landmark study proved adults retain it.
The findings, published in the journal Nature, have been described as “one of the most comprehensive and, probably, significant works in the field," according to Dr Shingo Kajimura, a molecular biologist at Harvard Medical School. Brown fat was previously believed to vanish after infancy (Getty) During the study, researchers found that people with active brown fat had a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, while also uncovering an unexpected “protective effect” against depression and anxiety. Together, the work concluded that the more active brown fat people have, the greater the protection they have from a range of disorders and diseases.
The mechanisms through which brown fat may prevent psychiatric conditions remain under investigation. “A potential explanation is that, because people with brown fat have a healthier metabolic profile, they will have less psychiatric issues,” said co-author Dr Nicolás Gómez-Banoy, a physician-scientist at The Rockefeller University. Because the study was retrospective, experts note that further studies will be required to prove a direct causation.
“More work is needed to prove that brown fat is indeed causing all these benefits,” said Dr Irfan Lodhi, a molecular biologist at Washington University in St. Louis. “But it’s still a very interesting and surprising study.” Scientists believe the link may be to do with an individual’s metabolic profile (PA) Finding practical ways to boost brown fat activity remains a challenge, as cold exposure is not always practical, and current activating drugs carry side effects.
But by analysing participant prescriptions, the authors have found that a common blood pressure drug – losartan – boosts brown fat activity in cell and animal models, opening the door to future research. “The dream is that we can use these kinds of data as a platform for not only learning new biology, but maybe repurposing already-approved drugs to activate brown fat in humans and leverage the benefits that come from that,” Dr Cohen said.
Source: The Independent
