Brown Adipose Tissue: an Update on Recent Findings
Kara L Marlatt1, Eric Ravussin2
1Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA, 70808, USA.
Current Obesity Reports
|November 5, 2017
Summary
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation shows limited impact on weight loss in humans, despite potential for energy expenditure. Further research is needed to confirm its relevance for obesity treatment.
Area of Science:
- Metabolism and Endocrinology
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Weight loss and maintenance strategies are crucial for human health.
- Brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation is a potential anti-obesity target due to its role in energy expenditure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current evidence on brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation for weight loss and maintenance in humans.
- To assess the viability of BAT as a pharmaceutical target for obesity.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing human trials on BAT stimulation, primarily focusing on cold exposure.
- Analysis of pharmacological approaches targeting BAT.
Main Results:
- Human studies indicate BAT activation contributes minimally to overall energy metabolism, making significant weight loss unlikely.
- Cold exposure has shown improvements in glucose metabolism in humans.
- Pharmacological BAT activation may carry cardiovascular risks, such as increased heart rate and blood pressure.
Conclusions:
- Current evidence does not support BAT as a viable pharmaceutical target for weight loss or maintenance in humans.
- More research is required to establish the role of BAT and beige tissue in human energy metabolism and their therapeutic potential.
