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. 2018 Sep 1;315(3):R479-R483.
doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00443.2017. Epub 2018 May 9.

Is activation of human brown adipose tissue a viable target for weight management?

Kara L Marlatt  1 , Kong Y Chen  2 , Eric Ravussin  1
Affiliations

Is activation of human brown adipose tissue a viable target for weight management?

Kara L Marlatt et al. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. .

Abstract

To date, human studies show that brown adipose tissue (BAT) contributes a small yet highly variable amount to overall energy expenditure. No studies have shown a decrease in body weight with cold-induced BAT activation, and existing pharmacological studies suggest that BAT activation via the sympathetic nervous system may result in increased heart rate and systolic blood pressure. Furthermore, even though the amount and/or activity of BAT have been shown to vary with seasons, such variation does not seem to be translated into weight changes. Collectively, these findings do not support the use of BAT activation for weight loss in humans; however, the potential role of BAT in counteracting the metabolic adaptation observed with weight loss is suggested. Although the role of BAT in weight control is currently unsubstantiated, BAT may play a role in improving insulin sensitivity in humans.

Keywords: beige adipocytes; brown adipose tissue; cold exposure; cold-induced thermogenesis; energy balance; thermogenesis; weight loss; weight loss maintenance; β3-adrenoreceptor agonists.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Mediators of brown adipose tissue (BAT; or Beige) amount/activity and impact on cardiometabolic health. WAT, white adipose tissue. +, The defined mediator is positively associated with BAT (or Beige) amount/activity; −, a negative association; ?, a debatable association.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Potential paradigm for human brown adipose tissue (BAT) to modulate weight loss maintenance.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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