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

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 sympath...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology integrative and comparative physiology, 2018-09, Vol.315 (3), p.R479-R483
Main Authors: Marlatt, Kara L, Chen, Kong Y, Ravussin, Eric
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activation
Adipose tissue
Adipose tissue (brown)
Adipose Tissue, Brown - drug effects
Adipose Tissue, Brown - metabolism
Adipose Tissue, Brown - physiopathology
Adipose tissues
Animals
Anti-Obesity Agents - adverse effects
Anti-Obesity Agents - therapeutic use
Blood pressure
Body weight
Body weight loss
Energy expenditure
Energy Metabolism - drug effects
Heart rate
Humans
Hypothermia, Induced - adverse effects
Hypothermia, Induced - methods
Insulin
Insulin Resistance
Nervous system
Obesity
Obesity - metabolism
Obesity - physiopathology
Obesity - therapy
Pharmacology
Sympathetic nervous system
Treatment Outcome
Weight control
Weight loss
Weight Loss - drug effects
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Summary: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.
ISSN:0363-6119
1522-1490
DOI:10.1152/ajpregu.00443.2017