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It turns out that fat can also secrete hormones! Do you know how fat tissue affects your health?
Adipose tissue is no longer regarded as a simple energy storage. It is actually an important endocrine organ that secretes various hormones. These hormones have a profound impact on human health. In the past, our understanding of fat focused mainly on its role of storing energy and providing buffering. However, with the deepening of research, scientists have discovered that there are many important bioactive substances in adipose tissue.
Adipose tissue can affect many aspects such as energy metabolism, inflammatory response, and insulin sensitivity.
Adipose tissue is composed of adipocytes (also called adipocytes) and contains a variety of cells such as stromal vascular fraction (SVF), such as preadipocytes, fibroblasts, and macrophages. Under normal circumstances, fat tissue provides feedback to the brain about appetite and eating. However, in the case of obesity, adipose tissue continues to release pro-inflammatory markers, affecting various body functions.
Adipose tissue mainly includes two types: white adipose tissue (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT). White adipose tissue is mainly used for energy storage, while brown adipose tissue is mainly involved in thermogenesis. This discovery was first discovered by Swiss naturalist Conrad Geissner in 1551.
Anatomical characteristics of adipose tissue
In humans, fat tissue can be found under the skin (subcutaneous fat), around the internal organs (visceral fat), in the bone marrow (yellow marrow), between muscles (musculature), and within the mammary glands (breast tissue). These specific locations are called fat depots, and the biochemical properties of each site vary.
Visceral fat has different metabolic characteristics from subcutaneous fat and is closely related to the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other obesity-related diseases.
Recent research has highlighted the connection between visceral fat and various diseases, especially the body's metabolic function. Excess visceral fat is not only stored in the abdomen, but is also closely related to hormones and inflammatory responses in the body.
The current situation of obesity
Obesity has become a major public health problem worldwide. Fat accumulation caused by obesity can cause a series of health problems, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. During this process, adipose tissue will become inflamed and continue to release pro-inflammatory substances, creating a vicious cycle.
“When you are overweight, the normal function of adipose tissue is inhibited, affecting overall health.”
Physiological roles and hormone secretion
Adipose tissue is not only a static energy storage, it is also an active endocrine organ, secreting leptin, resistin, estrogen and a variety of cytokines. These secretions can influence appetite, metabolism, and inflammatory responses, and help maintain insulin sensitivity.
Some studies have pointed out that there is a direct correlation between abdominal fat storage and a significant increase in the incidence of heart disease. Especially among people with higher stress levels, the proportion of visceral fat has also increased accordingly.
The importance of brown fat
Brown adipose tissue plays an increasingly important role in the human body as it is responsible for caloric consumption and energy balance. These fat cells convert stored fat into heat, which is essential for maintaining body temperature and energy metabolism. Scientists are also trying to stimulate the activity of brown fat through different physiological methods in order to increase the overall metabolic rate and help lose weight.
Future development trends
With the advancement of science and technology, scientists are working on using adult stem cells to extract from adipose tissue to promote tissue regeneration. This technology not only reduces the risk of tissue rejection but also avoids the ethical issues associated with the use of human embryonic stem cells. Stem cells generated from different fat depots show different characteristics and will be the focus of future research.
"The biomedical applications of adipose tissue continue to expand, and may be able to create more effective weight loss and health maintenance solutions in the future."
At this point, our understanding of adipose tissue is still in-depth. Fat is no longer just "excess" in our previous impressions, but a physiologically important endocrine organ. How to view the impact of adipose tissue on our health , is it worth pondering?
