Scottish scientists from the University of Edinburgh have discovered a gene whose elimination causes the body to burn more calories. The study was published on: magazine Nature Communications (NatComms).
We are talking about the PHD2 gene, which is found in large quantities in brown adipose tissue, a type of fat that helps us stay warm in cold weather.
Brown fat helps the body burn calories by breaking down blood sugar molecules and its own cells to maintain body heat. This process is especially effective in high mountain areas where the air contains less oxygen.
The team focused their work on PHD2, which acts as an oxygen sensor for the body and plays an important role in regulating brown fat.
The researchers found that by deleting the gene in brown fat in mice, they could mimic the effects of high altitude on fat, tricking the tissue into thinking it was in a state of hypoxia — a hot environment where the properties of brown fat are usually inactive.
The study found that mice without the PHD2 gene ate significantly more and burned more fat and 60% more calories than mice carrying the gene.
The scientists also noted that mice lacking the gene did not show signs of poor metabolism typically associated with excess weight.
The researchers highlighted that suppressing the oxygen-sensing gene may help protect the body from type 2 diabetes and other metabolic disorders.
Earlier scientists I learnedThis exercise improves belly fat.