Congratulations to ABC doctoral researcher Jenny Backhaus who has just published an article as first author in the prestigious Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism entitled Cold-induced brown adipose tissue activity alters plasma fatty acids and improves glucose metabolism in men.
Together with a team of researchers at the Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM) at the University of Lübeck as well as at the Universities of Vienna and Hamburg, Ms Backhaus explored the effects of cold-induced brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity on glucose and lipid metabolism. The joined paper demonstrates that cold-exposure induces sympathetic nervous system activity and BAT metabolism in humans, resulting in improved glucose metabolism without affecting pancreatic insulin secretion. In addition, this was associated with altered circulating concentrations of distinct fatty acids. These novel data support the concept that human BAT metabolism significantly contributes to whole body glucose and lipid utilization in a highly coordinated manner.
Iwen, K.A.*, Backhaus, J.*, Cassens, M., Waltl, M., Hedesan, O. C., Merkel, M., Heeren, J., Sina, C., Rademacher, L., Windjäger, A., Haug, A. R., Kiefer, F. W., Lehnert, H., and Schmid, S. M.: Cold-induced brown adipose tissue activity alters plasma fatty acids and improves glucose metabolism in men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2017, doi: 10.1210/jc.2017-01250. [Epub ahead of print] * equally contributing first authors
