Thermogenesis of brown fat adipose tissue in response to aerobic exercise
Subject Areas : Sport Physiology
Sarvenaz Aliasgari
1
,
Mohammad Ali Azarbayjani
2
*
,
sirvan Atashak
3
,
maghsoud peeri
4
,
Saleh Rahmati
5
1 - Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2 - Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3 - Department of physcical education and sport since, mah.c., Islamic Azad iniversity, Mahabad, Iran
4 - 1. Department of Sports Physiology, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
5 - Department of Physical Education, Pardis Branch, Islamic Azad University, Pardis, Iran.
Keywords: Aerobic exercise, thermogenesis, UCP1,
Abstract :
Due to decreased physical activity and excessive energy intake, obesity and its related metabolic diseases have become increasingly prevalent worldwide. Aerobic exercise is recognized as an effective non-pharmacological strategy for obesity management, acting through multiple mechanisms, including increased energy expenditure, improved substrate utilization, and regulation of body composition. One proposed mechanism is the activation of brown adipose tissue thermogenesis. Brown adipose tissue is rich in mitochondria and expresses uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), which enables the oxidation of glucose and fatty acids to generate heat rather than adenosine triphosphate. Through this process, BAT can contribute to daily energy expenditure and may help prevent excessive fat accumulation. Cold exposure, regular physical activity, and certain phytochemical compounds have been reported to activate thermogenic signaling pathways and enhance energy metabolism, partly through sympathetic stimulation and beta-3 adrenergic receptor activation in BAT. Although animal studies, particularly in rodent models, have suggested that aerobic exercise may stimulate brown fat thermogenesis and browning of white adipose tissue, evidence in humans remains limited and inconsistent. Some studies have reported beneficial effects, whereas others have failed to confirm a significant change in BAT activity after exercise training. Therefore, the thermogenic role of aerobic exercise in humans remains uncertain. Further well-designed clinical studies are needed to clarify whether exercise-induced activation of brown adipose tissue contributes meaningfully to obesity prevention and metabolic health.
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