TY - JOUR
T1 - Physiological and molecular mechanisms of cold-induced improvements in glucose homeostasis in humans beyond brown adipose tissue
AU - van Beek, S.
AU - Hashim, D.
AU - Bengtsson, T.
AU - Hoeks, J.
N1 - Funding Information:
SvB is supported by a grant from the Nutrim NWO graduate program.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.
PY - 2023/5
Y1 - 2023/5
N2 - Exposure to low ambient temperatures has previously been demonstrated to markedly improve glucose homeostasis in both rodents and humans. Although the brown adipose tissue is key in mediating these beneficial effects in rodents, its contribution appears more limited in humans. Hence, the exact tissues and underlying mechanisms that mediate cold-induced improvements in glucose homeostasis in humans remain to be fully established. In this review, we evaluated the response of the main organs involved in glucose metabolism (i.e. pancreas, liver, (white) adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle) to cold exposure and discuss their potential contribution to cold-induced improvements in glucose homeostasis in humans. We here show that cold exposure has widespread effects on metabolic organs involved in glucose regulation. Nevertheless, cold-induced improvements in glucose homeostasis appear primarily mediated via adaptations within the skeletal muscle and (presumably) white adipose tissue. Since the underlying mechanisms remain elusive, future studies should be aimed at pinpointing the exact physiological and molecular mechanisms involved in humans. Nonetheless, cold exposure holds great promise as a novel, additive lifestyle approach to improve glucose homeostasis in insulin resistant individuals.
AB - Exposure to low ambient temperatures has previously been demonstrated to markedly improve glucose homeostasis in both rodents and humans. Although the brown adipose tissue is key in mediating these beneficial effects in rodents, its contribution appears more limited in humans. Hence, the exact tissues and underlying mechanisms that mediate cold-induced improvements in glucose homeostasis in humans remain to be fully established. In this review, we evaluated the response of the main organs involved in glucose metabolism (i.e. pancreas, liver, (white) adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle) to cold exposure and discuss their potential contribution to cold-induced improvements in glucose homeostasis in humans. We here show that cold exposure has widespread effects on metabolic organs involved in glucose regulation. Nevertheless, cold-induced improvements in glucose homeostasis appear primarily mediated via adaptations within the skeletal muscle and (presumably) white adipose tissue. Since the underlying mechanisms remain elusive, future studies should be aimed at pinpointing the exact physiological and molecular mechanisms involved in humans. Nonetheless, cold exposure holds great promise as a novel, additive lifestyle approach to improve glucose homeostasis in insulin resistant individuals.
KW - BETA-ADRENOCEPTOR AGONIST
KW - ENHANCES ENERGY-EXPENDITURE
KW - MUSCLE-BASED THERMOGENESIS
KW - BASAL METABOLIC-RATE
KW - INSULIN SENSITIVITY
KW - SKELETAL-MUSCLE
KW - FATTY-ACID
KW - PLASMA-GLUCOSE
KW - BETA(3)-ADRENERGIC AGONIST
KW - NONSHIVERING THERMOGENESIS
U2 - 10.1038/s41366-023-01270-z
DO - 10.1038/s41366-023-01270-z
M3 - (Systematic) Review article
C2 - 36774412
SN - 0307-0565
VL - 47
SP - 338
EP - 347
JO - International Journal of Obesity
JF - International Journal of Obesity
IS - 5
ER -