The effect of diet on fat cell metabolism. A review

Abstract

A brief review of processes occurring in fat cells is given and the regulatory effects of certain hormones and nutrients are presented.Fat cells are found in the white adipose tissue and store substantial amounts of triglycerides. The process through which triglycerides are formed in these cells is called lipogenesis and is stimulated by insulin. The opposite process, lipolysis, i.e. the degradation of triglycerides with the liberation of glycerol and free fatty acids into the circulation, is stimulated by glucagon and adrenaline. Many factors related to nutrition such as, for example, fasting, nutritional status, the carbohydrate level of the diet, amount and composition of fats in it, can modify these processes. The diet and its composi tion also have an important effect on brown adipose tissue.

Short-term effects of palmitate and 2-bromopalmitate on the lipolytic activity of rat adipocytes

“…Finally, triglycerides undergo hydrolysis and the lipolytic products are released from fat cells (Londos et al, 1999). However, the adipocyte response to the lipolytic hormones is influenced by numerous factors, including other hormones and dietary components (reviewed by Kandulska and Szkudelski, 1998;Ahmadian et al, 2009). Experiments in vitro demonstrated that lipolysis in adipose cells is substantially affected by glucose and by mitochondrial uncoupling.…”

Adipocyte lipolysis, hormonal and metabolic changes in ethanol‐drinking rats

“…Lipid metabolism in adipocytes is a process aimed to store the excess of energy in the form of neutral lipids or to mobilize its sources in the form of fatty acids and glycerol. The intensity of these processes depends in great part on the nutritional status (reviewed by Kandulska and Szkudelski , 1998). Ethanol consumption may alter adipocyte metabolism directly, or indirectly by hormonal and metabolic changes in the whole organism.…”