Effects of Nutrition/Diet on Brown Adipose Tissue in Humans: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) provides a minor contribution to diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT)—the metabolic response to food consumption. Increased BAT activity is generally considered beneficial for mammalian metabolism and has been associated with favorable health outcomes. The aim of the current systematic review was to explore whether nutritional factors and/or diet affect human BAT activity. Methods: We searched PubMed Central, Embase and Cochrane Library (trials) to conduct this systematic review (PROSPERO protocol: CRD42018082323). Results: We included 24 eligible papers that studied a total of 2785 participants. We found no mean differences in standardized uptake value of BAT following a single meal or after 6 weeks of L-Arginine supplementation. Resting energy expenditure (REE), however, was increased following a single meal and after supplementation of capsinoid and catechin when compared to a control condition (Z = 2.41, p = 0.02; mean difference = 102.47 (95% CI = 19.28–185.67)). Conclusions: Human BAT activity was not significantly affected by nutrition/diet. Moreover, REE was only increased in response to a single meal, but it is unlikely that this was due to increased BAT activity. BAT activity assessments in response to the chronic effect of food should be considered along with other factors such as body composition and/or environmental temperature.

PET/MRI-evaluated brown adipose tissue activity may be related to dietary MUFA and omega-6 fatty acids intake

“…It is worth highlighting the significant outcomes from a systematic review (PROSPERO) and meta analyzes which showed no differences in standardized uptake value of BAT following a single meal or after 6 weeks of l -Arginine supplementation. Resting energy expenditure, however, was increased following a single meal and after supplementation of capsinoid and catechin when compared to a control condition 16 . The topic is still relevant and needs to be further investigated.…”

“…The thermogenic effects, effectiveness, as well as safety of some of these ways of BAT activation must be considered, and the risk and benefits balance need further investigation. The impact of dietary factors on BAT activity is still not clear 16 . However, some dietary ingredients, which seem to be safe and without any serious adverse effects, may impact BAT activation.…”

Astaxanthin, a Marine Carotenoid, Maintains the Tolerance and Integrity of Adipose Tissue and Contributes to Its Healthy Functions

“…AX has been also reported to be a partial modulator of PPARγ [22]. As for adiponectin (AdipoQ), which is a gene transcriptionally regulated by PPARγ [21], and a favorable adipokine secreted from AT, it increased in the AX-treated group regardless of the treatment period (Figure 3C, and Supplementary Figure S4), which reflects the effects that were observed in humans and obese animals [7,11,12]. The activation of PPARγ, in association with peroxisome proliferator activates receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), induces adipocyte progenitor cell differentiation to "Beige/Brite (brown-like in white)" adipocytes cells with high expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP-1) located in the inner mitochondrial membrane [23,24].…”

“…In recent years, a variety of nutrients have been reported to exert direct effects on AT, but the mechanism of action of most of them is either to inhibit the development of adipocytes or to lipolysis of fat from adipocytes. In other words, the goal is simply to provide weight loss, but it is unclear whether these actions always produce a physiologically beneficial effect [7,8].…”

The Role of Exercise, Diet, and Cytokines in Preventing Obesity and Improving Adipose Tissue

“…The effect of LCDs on adipose tissue metabolism is still controversial. Similarly, a recent systematic review [ 164 ] and meta-analysis studies [ 165 ] have documented that, although it is biologically plausible that the ingestion of dietary components can alter human BAT activity, the current level of evidence shows human BAT activity is not significantly affected by nutrition/diet. More work is needed to understand whether dietary components can exert a profound effect on human BAT that will allow us to reveal effective diet interventions able to activate and recruit human BAT.…”