Brown fat and the myth of diet-induced thermogenesis

Cell Metab. 2010 Apr 7;11(4):263-7. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2010.03.009.

Abstract

The notion that brown adipose tissue (BAT) in mice or humans maintains energy balance by burning off excess calories seems incompatible with evolutionary biology. Studies in obese rats and mice lacking UCP1 indicate that diet-induced thermogenesis by BAT is unlikely.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Biological / physiology*
  • Adipose Tissue, Brown / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Diet*
  • Energy Metabolism / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Ion Channels / genetics
  • Ion Channels / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / genetics
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Models, Biological
  • Rats
  • Thermogenesis / physiology*
  • Uncoupling Protein 1

Substances

  • Ion Channels
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • UCP1 protein, human
  • Ucp1 protein, mouse
  • Ucp1 protein, rat
  • Uncoupling Protein 1