Turning White Fat Into Energy-Burning Brown Fat: Hope for New Obesity and Diabetes Treatments

ScienceDaily ^ | Aug. 2, 2012 | NA ,

[neverdem]

Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) researchers have identified a mechanism that can give energy-storing white fat some of the beneficial characteristics of energy-burning brown fat. The findings, based on studies of mice and of human fat tissue, could lead to new strategies for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes. The study was published August 2 in the online edition of the journal Cell.

Humans have two types of fat tissue: white fat, which stores excess energy in the form of triglycerides, and brown fat, which is highly efficient at dissipating stored energy as heat. Newborns have a relative abundance of brown fat, as protection against exposure to cold temperatures. In adults, however, almost all excess energy is stored as white fat.

"Turning white fat into brown fat is an appealing therapeutic approach to staunching the obesity epidemic, but it has been difficult to do so in a safe and effective way," said study leader Domenico Accili, MD, professor of Medicine and the Russell Berrie Foundation Professor at CUMC.

White fat can be "browned" with a class of drugs called thiazolidazines (TZDs), which increase the body's sensitivity to insulin. However, TZDs have many adverse effects -- including liver toxicity, bone loss, and, ironically, weight gain -- which have limited the use of these drugs.

The current study was undertaken to learn more about the function of TZDs, with the ultimate goal of developing better ways to promote the browning of white fat.

Scientists have known that TZDs promote the browning of white fat by activating a cell receptor called peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (ppar-gamma), but the exact mechanism was not clear. To learn more, Dr. Accili and his colleagues studied a group of enzymes called sirtuins, which are thought to affect various biological processes, including metabolism.

The researchers had previously shown in...

[Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit]

Sounds like fat affirmative action.

[bayliving]

Ping for later reading...

[st.eqed]

This topic sounds like it should generate some interesting comments. Don’t let me down Freepers.

[P.O.E.]

Turning white fat into brown?

[Wingy]

I saw some research 20 years ago stating that Eskimos had a much larger percentage of brown fat to white. It was thought that if you slept in an artificially cool room, over time you could change some of your white fat to brown, which actually burns calories. I asked if I could put my little brother in the freezer, as a test, but Mom always said “No”.

[detective]

“White fat can be “browned” with a class of drugs called thiazolidazines (TZDs), which increase the body's sensitivity to insulin. However, TZDs have many adverse effects — including liver toxicity, bone loss, and, ironically, weight gain”

Sounds like it doesn't make sense.

[momtothree]

Well, I learned something new today. I always thought “white” fat was what I had in the Winter. “Brown” fat was what I had in the Summer... especially after a few days at the beach. Who knew.....

[RegulatorCountry]

Climate control is making us fat, lol. Another rationalization for smart meters.

[trailhkr1]

It was thought that if you slept in an artificially cool room, over time you could change some of your white fat to brown, which actually burns calories

I drink 1.5 gallons of ice cold water per day approx. Numerous studies show that if you drink very cold water versus warmer water you burn more calories over time...can't remember the reason maybe lowering core body temp for a short time and the body reacts??

[TribalPrincess2U]

We’re all mulattos.

[Ancesthntr]

I drink 1.5 gallons of ice cold water per day approx. Numerous studies show that if you drink very cold water versus warmer water you burn more calories over time...can't remember the reason maybe lowering core body temp for a short time and the body reacts??

Uh, no, its a lot more simple than that, and can be illustrated with a question: has your urine ever been cold? I'm betting that the answer is "no" and that's because the body brings all food and drink you consume to body temperature. 1 1/2 gallons of very cold water would have to be heated up from maybe 40 degrees to 98.6 - and that takes a lot of energy. THAT is why you burn more calories over time.

[I_be_tc]

Later, neverdem. Thank you.

[neverdem]

FReepmail me if you want on or off the diabetes ping list.

[neverdem]

FReepmail me if you want on or off the diabetes ping list.

[rmh47]

1 1/2 gallons of very cold water would have to be heated up from maybe 40 degrees to 98.6 - and that takes a lot of energy. THAT is why you burn more calories over time

By my calculation, raising 1.5 gallons of water 60 degrees F uses about 190 Calories.

That's not huge, but I suppose over time it would add up--provided you did not change the amount you eat to compensate.

Anybody want to check my arithmetic?

Conversion factors:

1 Calorie = 1000 calories
1 degree C = 1.8 degrees F
1 gallon (water) = 8.33 lb
1 lb = 454 gm

[Ancesthntr]

190 calories/day x 365 days = 69,350 calories = 19.81 pounds @ 3,500 calories/pound. Sounds pretty huge to me for doing nothing other than drinking cold water.

[Pining_4_TX]

Unless one subscribes to the set point theory which states that (within a small range), no matter how hard we try to defeat it. If you start losing weight, your body will compensate in many ways to try to regain the weight.

Old book - Dieter’s Dilemma, Eating Less and Weighing More

It’s depressing for those of us who constantly battle the bulge.