08/16/2018 / By Michelle Simmons
Exposure to cold temperatures for long periods of time was found to reduce the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes, according to a study published in the journal Nature Communications. This link between temperature and obesity and diabetes risks is believed to be influenced by the way temperature affects the role of fat cells in the body.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo and Tohoku University in Japan carried out a study in mice that looked at how fat cells reacted to different temperatures.
Based on the results of their study, they found that long-term exposure to cold temperature caused white fat cells to produce brown-like fat cells.
White fat cells store energy, while brown-like fat cells burn energy. This finding is significant because brown fat cells are known to be healthier compared to white fat cells, which are typically linked to metabolic disorders, such as Type 2 diabetes.
According to the researchers, the process starts when the cold triggers a change in a protein called JMJD1A. When this altered protein is mixed with other proteins, it alters the way a gene works to produce heat. After that, a chemical process called thermogenesis is stimulated, which alters epigenetic patterns for white fat cells to transform into beige fat cells, which act like brown fat cells.
The researchers noted that the same white-to-beige fat transition can occur without exposure to cold temperatures. Therefore, developing a treatment that specifically focuses on amino acids within proteins could enhance health outcomes. However, before any fat cell treatment can be developed, further research in humans will be needed to confirm these findings.
“Our next experiments will look more closely at epigenetic modifications within thermogenesis signaling pathway so that we may manipulate it,” said the researchers.
Since diabetes is a chronic disease, prevention is essential. Here are some tips on preventing diabetes:
Read more news stories and studies on preventing type 2 diabetes by going to DiabetesScienceNews.com.
Sources include:
Tagged Under: cold temperatures, diabetes, diabetes prevention, diabetes science, disease prevention, fitness, lifestyle, natural cures, nutrition, obesity, obesity prevention, slender