This visual abstract depicts what Lee et al. found, how glucose utilization by brown fat
in humans is coupled with heat production in a circadian manner. Higher brown fat
abundance correlates with lesser glycemia variability, suggestingthat brown fat may help
buffer glucose fluctuations and maintain whole-body glucose homeostasis over time.
Credit: Lee et al./Cell Metabolism 2016
Australian scientists have shown that brown fat - a special type of fat that burns energy
to produce heat - may also help to keep blood sugar steady in adults.
Researchers at Sydney's Garvan Institute of Medical Research measured brown fat
activity and blood glucose continuously in real time in study participants, and found that
individuals with more brown fat had smaller fluctuations in blood sugar . Their findings
open new avenues for diabetes therapies that target brown fat.
The incidence of type 2 diabetes, which is characterised by high blood sugar, is reaching
epidemic proportions worldwide. There is a need for new insights into how blood sugar
levels can be controlled, beyond mechanisms actioned by currently available therapies.
Now, researchers at Garvan have shown that brown fat may help to minimise
fluctuations in blood sugar (blood glucose) concentration in adults. Their work is
published today in the prestigious journal Cell Metabolism.
Unlike white fat, which primarily stores energy, brown fat burns energy - often in
remarkably large amounts. Sitting just above the collarbone and in the neck, brown fat
acts like a heat generator, helping to keep us warm by burning sugar and fat.
Dr Paul Lee and Associate Professor Jerry Greenfield, of Garvan's Diabetes and
Metabolism Division, have long been interested in whether brown fat might have a role
beyond keeping us cosy.
Dr Lee says, "Brown fat takes up so much glucose that we wondered whether brown fat
could affect the concentration of glucose in the blood - and whether, therefore, brown
fat-targeted therapies might help control diabetes.
"Previously, we showed that individuals with large brown fat stores tend to be lean and
have lower blood glucose - and now, we have uncovered a potential link between brown
fat activity and blood glucose variations."
The research team studied a group of 15 healthy adults over 12 hours. They found that
blood glucose levels and heat production by brown fat were closely related, tracking
together over time.
source http://www.kleeqers.com/forum/health/566-brown-fat-keeps-blood-sugar-in-check

Carry ur story go back page.

What's 29 and 28 doing in school?

PhD or what?