Revitalising weight loss: The miraculous power of “beige fat” in reversing age-related weight gain
Discovering the ability to activate the body’s own fat-burning mechanisms and counteract age-related metabolic changes might seem like an unattainable dream, but researchers at Cornell University’s Division of Nutritional Sciences are working towards making it a reality. Their recent study explores the potential of a specific type of fat cells known as “beige fat” to reverse the effects of a slowing metabolism.
In mammals, including humans, two main types of fat exist: white adipose tissue (WAT), which stores excess calories, and brown adipose tissue (BAT), which burns calories to generate heat and regulate body temperature. The study sheds light on the therapeutic possibilities of a third type of fat called beige fat, a subtype of WAT. Beige fat shares characteristics with both white and brown fat, possessing thermogenic properties similar to brown fat and the ability to regulate blood sugar levels and reduce fatty acids associated with conditions like arterial hardening and heart disease.
The formation of beige fat occurs when adipose progenitor cells, a type of stem cell found within white fat, are stimulated by prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. However, as individuals age, their response to this stimulus weakens, leading to an imbalance favouring the production of white fat.
“Seasonal changes in beige fat occur in young humans, but an older person would have to stand outside in the snow in their underwear to achieve those same effects,” explains Dan Berry, an assistant professor in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University.
Previous research by Berry revealed that the ageing process inhibits the formation of beige fat cells in response to cold temperatures.
The study’s lead author, Abigail Benvie, a doctoral student researcher in Berry’s lab, explains that the ultimate goal of their research is to find ways to stimulate metabolic pathways without subjecting individuals to prolonged cold exposure. Researchers successfully suppressed this pathway in ageing mice and stimulated the production of beige fat cells in areas where only white fat would typically form.
This research not only offers potential solutions for age-related weight gain and associated health conditions but also provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying beige fat formation. The study’s co-authors, including graduate students Derek Lee, Benjamin M. Steiner, and Siwen Xue, as well as Yuwei Jiang from the University of Illinois at Chicago, plan to further investigate the identified pathway and explore other molecular regulators of beige fat formation. With a $2.2 million, five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health, Berry’s lab aims to deepen our understanding of how these regulators change in levels and activity during the ageing process.
The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, represents a significant step forward in harnessing the potential of beige fat to combat age-related weight gain and improve metabolic health.
