<< Does brown fat really exist? If so, where can I read more about it? I
discovered this distinction of fatty tissue after reading Ann Louise
Gittleman’s book ‘Eat Fat, Lose Weight’ where she says that brown fat,
unlike white fat, has a high level of mitochondria and is supposed to
serve in energy and heat production. She claims that a deficiency of
essential fatty acids in one’s diet can lead to a reduction in this
activity of brown fat so people can have difficulty with their weight
despite other measure at weight control. >>
***Try these websites:
http://arbl.cvmbs.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/misc_topics/brownfat.html
http://www.phys.com/b_nutrition/03encyclopedia/02terms/f/fat.html
Brown fat is involved in what is known as non-shivering thermogenesis (heat
production) and it has been noticed in some people that certain anaesthetic
agents (such as halothane) can suppress this process in brown fat. This
means that some patients can display dangerous life-threatening hypothermia
(decrease in body temperature) under anaesthesia. I learned about this
serious problem from my late father, who was a specialist aneasthetist – on
a few occasions during his long career, he had to cope with a few patients
like that.
Brown fat certainly is an interesting substance!
Dr Mel C Siff
Denver, USA
mcsiff@aol.com
Halothane selectively inhibits nonshivering thermogenesis. Possible
implications for thermoregulation during anesthesia of infants.
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Tags: Brown Fat, Dr Mel Siff, Essential Fatty Acids, Fatty Tissue, Mel Siff, Thermoregulation