SAHLGRENSKA ACADEMY, GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN. Researchers were able to prove through a recent study that humans don’t just have one type of brown fat cells as previously thought. They were able to show that humans actually have two types of brown fat cells which play a very important role in the development of diabetes and obesity. It is a known fact that white fat cells store the body’s excess energy in the form of fat. Brown fat cells, on the other hand, are capable of burning energy, turning it into heat which is very unique property.
In the recent study, it has been revealed that the human body has at least two different types of brown fat cells. In fact, it has already been proven that the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is smaller for people who have more brown fat cells in their body because brown fat cells are responsible for preventing obesity.
Right now, the team of researchers who are working on the study are working more on developing methods to stimulate the brown fat cells. That way, the excess energy stored in the body as fat can eventually be converted into heat. That way, it will be easier to prevent obesity in order to lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other diseases that are related to obesity.
The research team is headed by Doctor Sven Enerbäck from the Sahlgrenska Academy in Gothenburg, Sweden. They call the new type of brown fat cell ” ” which is more commonly found in infants. However, the classical brown fat seems to disappear as we reach adolescence. Their main goal right now is to “reactivate” the classical brown fat cell in older people to treat obesity effectively.
Invention | Classical Brown Fat |
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Organization | Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, Sweden |
Researcher | Doctor Sven Enerbäck & team |
Field(s) | brown fat cell, obesity, diabetes, medicine |
Further Information | http://www.sci-news.com/medicine/article01064.html |