The activity of brown adipose tissue (BAT), which is commonly known as brown fat, helps prevent fluctuating glucose levels — a diabetes forerunner. Moreover, higher amounts of brown fat lower the risk for developing diabetes and other health conditions.
A team of scientists from Australia's Garvan Institute of Medical Research analyzed the glucose levels and brown fat activity of 15 healthy individuals in the span of 12 hours as they conducted their daily activities.
Brown fat activity was measured through the heat it generated on the skin. The researchers used a small thermometer to detect the heat level on the collarbone of the participants where brown fat is located.
"We think brown fat may be functioning as a glucose buffer, smoothing out the fluctuations of glucose," said endocrinologist Dr. Paul Lee. The study was published in the Cell Metabolism journal on March 10.
Participants with high amounts of brown fats also had a drop in their glucose levels as the fats' activity increased. The researchers said the data was constant with the fats' glucose consumption. As a result, the glucose levels of these participants were very much stable during the study's monitoring period.
By contrast, they found that people with less brown fat also had more inconsistent glucose levels, which is a diabetes precursor. Large glucose levels fluctuations also increases the risks of other conditions such as kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, as well as neurological and visual impairments.
The researchers cautioned people on the findings implications. They highlighted regular exercise and a well-balanced diet are still the best ways to maintain a healthy metabolism.
"While interesting and promising, brown fat is not the solution to finding a cure for diabetes, at least not now," added Lee.
Past studies showed that brown fat burn calories to help maintain a constant body temperature. In prehistoric times, brown fats help keep our ancestors warm. In modern times, the new study found that it could be an effective glucose buffer that can help prevent diabetes and other health conditions.
Babies have high amounts of brown fats. The numbers decrease with age. Normally, people with low body mass index (BMI) have higher amounts of brown fat that sit just above the collarbone and in the neck area.
Photo: Victoria Koh | Flickr
