Key result
The presence of brown adipose tissue was independently correlated with lower odds of type II diabetes, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and hypertension.
Why the study?
Thermogenic adipose tissues improve glucose and lipid homeostasis in mouse models, but the extent to which brown adipose tissue influences metabolic and cardiovascular disease in humans is unclear.
Does the presence of brown adipose tissue reduce the prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases in humans?
Cohort (n=53,475)
Does the presence of brown adipose tissue reduce the prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases in humans?
The presence of brown adipose tissue is associated with significantly improved cardiometabolic health and lower rates of cardiovascular diseases, with effects most pronounced in overweight and obese individuals.
BAT presence was associated with lower cardiometabolic risks; leaves open causality and need for activation trials.
White fat stores excess energy, while brown and beige fat dissipate energy as heat 1 . These thermogenic adipose tissues markedly improve glucose and lipid homeostasis in mouse models, though the extent to which brown adipose tissue (BAT) influences metabolic and cardiovascular disease in humans is unclear 2, 3, 4 . Here, we categorized 139,224 18 F-FDG PET/CT scans from 53,475 patients by presence or absence of BAT and used propensity score matching to assemble a study cohort. Individuals with BAT showed lower prevalences of cardiometabolic diseases. Additionally, BAT independently correlated with lower odds of type II diabetes, coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure. These findings were supported by improved glucose, triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein values. The effects of BAT were more pronounced in overweight and obesity, indicating that BAT can offset the deleterious effects of obesity. Strikingly, we also found lower rates of hypertension among patients with BAT. Studies in a mouse model with genetic ablation of beige fat demonstrated elevated blood pressure due to increased sensitivity to angiotensin II in peripheral resistance arteries. In addition to highlighting a role for BAT in promoting overall cardiometabolic health, this study reveals a new link between thermogenic adipose tissue and blood pressure regulation.
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Becher et al. (2020) conducted a cohort in Cardiometabolic diseases (n=53,475). Presence of brown adipose tissue (BAT) vs. Absence of brown adipose tissue was evaluated on Prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases. The presence of brown adipose tissue was independently correlated with lower odds of type II diabetes, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and hypertension.