Study Links Detectable Brown Fat to Lower Disease Rates; Losartan Activates It in Mice
HealthUnverifiedUpdated:
Among 101,243 people whose medical records were analyzed, nearly 8,900 had detectable brown fat; those participants were reportedly less likely to have type 2 diabetes, heart disease, anxiety, or depression than matched controls. In mice, losartan made brown fat more active, though later health benefits were not determined.
Medical-record associations and a mouse drug experiment
Researchers reportedly used AI to examine medical records from 101,243 study participants and identify brown fat.
They found nearly 8,900 people with detectable brown fat and reported lower likelihoods of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, anxiety, and depression compared with matched controls. The team also reported that mice given the blood-pressure drug losartan had more active brown fat, burning more energy and producing more heat.
The supplied evidence does not establish a population-wide before-to-now change or causation. It compares participants with detectable brown fat against matched controls and reports mouse experiments separately.
The study reportedly linked detectable brown fat in medical records with lower rates of several physical and mental-health conditions, while losartan increased brown-fat activity in mice.
The results do not establish human causation or benefit
Brown fat is reported to burn sugar and fat and help regulate body temperature. The findings point to brown fat as a possible therapeutic target, but they do not show that brown fat causes the observed health differences or that losartan will produce health benefits in people.
Sources
- ScienceAlertBrown Fat Can Be Beneficial For The Body – And a Blood Pressure Drug Could Turn It OnRead source →