Component

Brown adipose tissue

Brown adipose tissue. Species, exposure and limitations are retained in each linked claim.

4 recorded relationships. Experimental role, claim status and evidence remain attached to each record.

Read recorded mechanisms Open recursive mind map

How nutrients influence it

Every nutrient with a recorded effect on this component, credited to the nutrient that acted rather than the chapter that recorded it. Open a nutrient to see the findings and the conditions they were measured under.

How nutrients reach it in more than one step

Chains of two or more recorded steps that end here, grouped by the nutrient they start from. Each step is a separate finding, so a chain is a route a mechanism could take, not proof that it does.

Tracing routes…

What it does

Every recorded relationship this component is part of, grouped by its role. Plain wording comes first; the technical statement follows.

Recorded relationships

What it acts on

  1. Cold induced a 12-fold increase in brown adipose tissue glucose uptake accompanied by a doubling of perfusion, with whole-body energy expenditure positively associated with perfusion, whereas insulin enhanced glucose uptake 5-fold independently of perfusion.

    Brown adipose tissue → Brown adipose tissue perfusion source_derived_draftungraded
    Experimental context and source evidence
    evidence_span
    {"source_cache": "artifacts/cold-research/21803297.abstract.txt", "locator": "Indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "59c9610242aa276de795dd00e2855d10444505f6005a87b85bc058cd564a7e52", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 997, "text_sha256": "59c9610242aa276de795dd00e2855d10444505f6005a87b85bc058cd564a7e52"}
    experimental_model
    PET-CT of glucose uptake and perfusion in human brown and white adipose tissue with gene expression
    exposure
    Cold activation compared with insulin stimulation
    limitations
    The cold and insulin arms are separated deliberately, which shows the tissue has two distinct activation modes.
    nutrient_topic
    Cold water immersion research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct clinical effect, and a therapeutic exposure is not a dietary intake. · Cold water immersion
    organism
    Human
    plain_language
    Cold makes the tissue take up fuel and open its blood supply; insulin only does the first.
    primary_references
    [cold-p21803297] Different metabolic responses of human brown adipose tissue to activation by cold and insulin. (2011). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21803297/ DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2011.06.012
    tissue_or_cell_type
    Brown and white adipose tissue

    Cold water immersion: cold sensing, heat production, the catecholamine axis and what repeated exposure changes (2026-09-19) · lines 299–310

    AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · PET-CT of glucose uptake and perfusion in human brown and white adipose tissue with gene expression · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ### cold-bat-cold-versus-insulin Cold induced a 12-fold increase in brown adipose tissue glucose uptake accompanied by a doubling of perfusion, with whole-body energy expenditure positively associated with perfusion, whereas insulin enhanced glucose uptake 5-fold independently of perfusion. Condition category: normal nutrient_topic: Cold water immersion research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct clinical effect, and a therapeutic exposure is not a dietary intake. plain_language: Cold makes the tissue take up fuel and open its blood supply; insulin only does the first. organism: Human tissue_or_cell_type: Brown and white adipose tissue experimental_model: PET-CT of glucose uptake and perfusion in human brown and white adipose tissue with gene expression limitations: The cold and insulin arms are separated deliberately, which shows the tissue has two distinct activation modes. exposure: Cold activation compared with insulin stimulation evidence_span: {"source_cache": "artifacts/cold-research/21803297.abstract.txt", "locator": "Indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "59c9610242aa276de795dd00e2855d10444505f6005a87b85bc058cd564a7e52", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 997, "text_sha256": "59c9610242aa276de795dd00e2855d10444505f6005a87b85bc058cd564a7e52"} [cold-p21803297] Different metabolic responses of human brown adipose tissue to activation by cold and insulin. (2011). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21803297/ DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2011.06.012
    Complete structured claim and evidence

  2. Cold exposure activated oxidative metabolism in brown adipose tissue but not in adjoining skeletal muscle or subcutaneous adipose tissue, with substantial non-esterified fatty acid and glucose uptake, and this was associated with an increase in total energy expenditure.

    Brown adipose tissue → Brown adipose tissue oxidative metabolism source_derived_draftungraded
    Experimental context and source evidence
    evidence_span
    {"source_cache": "artifacts/cold-research/22269323.abstract.txt", "locator": "Indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "74713401a7fdc40f7921b595ecc554999d10e2406589f231fc68bf0ae460812f", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 1306, "text_sha256": "74713401a7fdc40f7921b595ecc554999d10e2406589f231fc68bf0ae460812f"}
    experimental_model
    Six healthy men studied with 11C-acetate, 18FDG and a fatty acid tracer under controlled cold
    exposure
    Controlled cold exposure with quantified oxidative metabolism and substrate turnover
    limitations
    The acetate tracer measures oxidative metabolism rather than glucose uptake alone, which is what makes the thermogenic claim interpretable. Six subjects is a small sample.
    nutrient_topic
    Cold water immersion research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct clinical effect, and a therapeutic exposure is not a dietary intake. · Cold water immersion
    organism
    Human
    plain_language
    The tissue really does burn fuel in the cold, and its neighbours do not.
    primary_references
    [cold-p22269323] Brown adipose tissue oxidative metabolism contributes to energy expenditure during acute cold exposure in humans. (2012). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22269323/ DOI: 10.1172/jci60433
    tissue_or_cell_type
    Brown adipose tissue, skeletal muscle and subcutaneous fat

    Cold water immersion: cold sensing, heat production, the catecholamine axis and what repeated exposure changes (2026-09-19) · lines 273–284

    AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · Six healthy men studied with 11C-acetate, 18FDG and a fatty acid tracer under controlled cold · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ### cold-bat-oxidative-activation Cold exposure activated oxidative metabolism in brown adipose tissue but not in adjoining skeletal muscle or subcutaneous adipose tissue, with substantial non-esterified fatty acid and glucose uptake, and this was associated with an increase in total energy expenditure. Condition category: normal nutrient_topic: Cold water immersion research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct clinical effect, and a therapeutic exposure is not a dietary intake. plain_language: The tissue really does burn fuel in the cold, and its neighbours do not. organism: Human tissue_or_cell_type: Brown adipose tissue, skeletal muscle and subcutaneous fat experimental_model: Six healthy men studied with 11C-acetate, 18FDG and a fatty acid tracer under controlled cold limitations: The acetate tracer measures oxidative metabolism rather than glucose uptake alone, which is what makes the thermogenic claim interpretable. Six subjects is a small sample. exposure: Controlled cold exposure with quantified oxidative metabolism and substrate turnover evidence_span: {"source_cache": "artifacts/cold-research/22269323.abstract.txt", "locator": "Indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "74713401a7fdc40f7921b595ecc554999d10e2406589f231fc68bf0ae460812f", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 1306, "text_sha256": "74713401a7fdc40f7921b595ecc554999d10e2406589f231fc68bf0ae460812f"} [cold-p22269323] Brown adipose tissue oxidative metabolism contributes to energy expenditure during acute cold exposure in humans. (2012). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22269323/ DOI: 10.1172/jci60433
    Complete structured claim and evidence

  3. Brown adipose tissue activity was observed in 23 of 24 subjects during cold exposure at 16 degrees C but not under thermoneutral conditions.

    Brown adipose tissue → Brown adipose tissue glucose uptake source_derived_draftungraded
    Experimental context and source evidence
    evidence_span
    {"source_cache": "artifacts/cold-research/19357405.abstract.txt", "locator": "Indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "fc69ba9ec6aa4e295cde530497a3ef435ad5fa436888932b81565c05eb4ecf67", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 2035, "text_sha256": "fc69ba9ec6aa4e295cde530497a3ef435ad5fa436888932b81565c05eb4ecf67"}
    experimental_model
    Twenty-four lean and overweight healthy men studied by integrated FDG PET and CT
    exposure
    Thermoneutral 22 degrees C versus mild cold exposure at 16 degrees C
    limitations
    A systematic human survey establishing that the tissue is present and cold-activated. Glucose uptake on PET is an activity surrogate, not a heat measurement.
    nutrient_topic
    Cold water immersion research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct clinical effect, and a therapeutic exposure is not a dietary intake. · Cold water immersion
    organism
    Human
    plain_language
    Nearly every young adult has this tissue, and only cold switches it on.
    primary_references
    [cold-p19357405] Cold-activated brown adipose tissue in healthy men. (2009). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19357405/ DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa0808718
    tissue_or_cell_type
    Supraclavicular and paravertebral brown adipose tissue

    Cold water immersion: cold sensing, heat production, the catecholamine axis and what repeated exposure changes (2026-09-19) · lines 247–258

    AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · Twenty-four lean and overweight healthy men studied by integrated FDG PET and CT · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ### cold-bat-present-in-adults Brown adipose tissue activity was observed in 23 of 24 subjects during cold exposure at 16 degrees C but not under thermoneutral conditions. Condition category: normal nutrient_topic: Cold water immersion research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct clinical effect, and a therapeutic exposure is not a dietary intake. plain_language: Nearly every young adult has this tissue, and only cold switches it on. organism: Human tissue_or_cell_type: Supraclavicular and paravertebral brown adipose tissue experimental_model: Twenty-four lean and overweight healthy men studied by integrated FDG PET and CT limitations: A systematic human survey establishing that the tissue is present and cold-activated. Glucose uptake on PET is an activity surrogate, not a heat measurement. exposure: Thermoneutral 22 degrees C versus mild cold exposure at 16 degrees C evidence_span: {"source_cache": "artifacts/cold-research/19357405.abstract.txt", "locator": "Indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "fc69ba9ec6aa4e295cde530497a3ef435ad5fa436888932b81565c05eb4ecf67", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 2035, "text_sha256": "fc69ba9ec6aa4e295cde530497a3ef435ad5fa436888932b81565c05eb4ecf67"} [cold-p19357405] Cold-activated brown adipose tissue in healthy men. (2009). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19357405/ DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa0808718
    Complete structured claim and evidence

Where it participates (unsigned role)

  1. Intravenous injection of the TRPV1 agonist dihydrocapsaicin decreased brown adipose tissue sympathetic nerve activity, brown adipose tissue temperature, expired carbon dioxide and heart rate, though not mean arterial pressure, during skin cooling in anaesthetised rats.

    Dihydrocapsaicin → Brown adipose tissue thermogenesis source_derived_draftungraded
    Experimental context and source evidence
    evidence_span
    {"source_cache": "artifacts/dihydrocapsaicin-research/29590555.abstract.txt", "locator": "Indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "947ba9408e8bbaecee08ba0b2018014faa1d26d3c1fdf8df063e92911e53e19a", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 1882, "text_sha256": "947ba9408e8bbaecee08ba0b2018014faa1d26d3c1fdf8df063e92911e53e19a"}
    experimental_model
    Urethane-chloralose-anaesthetised rats with nucleus tractus solitarius nanoinjection, sympathetic nerve recording and vagotomy
    exposure
    Intravenous dihydrocapsaicin, against resiniferatoxin nanoinjected into the nucleus tractus solitarius, with capsazepine and bilateral cervical or subdiaphragmatic vagotomy
    limitations
    The vagotomy control separates a central vagal route from whatever systemic dihydrocapsaicin uses. Anaesthetised animals, so the cardiovascular numbers are not directly comparable with the conscious studies here.
    nutrient_topic
    Dihydrocapsaicin research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct clinical effect, and dihydrocapsaicin is recorded separately from capsaicin. · Dihydrocapsaicin
    organism
    Rat
    plain_language
    It turns down the body’s own heater, which is part of why the temperature falls.
    primary_references
    [dhc-p29590555] Activation of TRPV1 in nucleus tractus solitarius reduces brown adipose tissue thermogenesis, arterial pressure, and heart rate. (2018). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29590555/ DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00049.2018
    tissue_or_cell_type
    Nucleus tractus solitarius and brown adipose tissue

    Dihydrocapsaicin: the second capsaicinoid, the hypothermia it is used to induce, what the gut and liver do to it, and what it does without TRPV1 (2026-09-21) · lines 400–411

    AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · Urethane-chloralose-anaesthetised rats with nucleus tractus solitarius nanoinjection, sympathetic nerve recording and vagotomy · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ### dhc-shuts-down-brown-fat Intravenous injection of the TRPV1 agonist dihydrocapsaicin decreased brown adipose tissue sympathetic nerve activity, brown adipose tissue temperature, expired carbon dioxide and heart rate, though not mean arterial pressure, during skin cooling in anaesthetised rats. Condition category: normal nutrient_topic: Dihydrocapsaicin research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct clinical effect, and dihydrocapsaicin is recorded separately from capsaicin. plain_language: It turns down the body’s own heater, which is part of why the temperature falls. organism: Rat tissue_or_cell_type: Nucleus tractus solitarius and brown adipose tissue experimental_model: Urethane-chloralose-anaesthetised rats with nucleus tractus solitarius nanoinjection, sympathetic nerve recording and vagotomy limitations: The vagotomy control separates a central vagal route from whatever systemic dihydrocapsaicin uses. Anaesthetised animals, so the cardiovascular numbers are not directly comparable with the conscious studies here. exposure: Intravenous dihydrocapsaicin, against resiniferatoxin nanoinjected into the nucleus tractus solitarius, with capsazepine and bilateral cervical or subdiaphragmatic vagotomy evidence_span: {"source_cache": "artifacts/dihydrocapsaicin-research/29590555.abstract.txt", "locator": "Indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "947ba9408e8bbaecee08ba0b2018014faa1d26d3c1fdf8df063e92911e53e19a", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 1882, "text_sha256": "947ba9408e8bbaecee08ba0b2018014faa1d26d3c1fdf8df063e92911e53e19a"} [dhc-p29590555] Activation of TRPV1 in nucleus tractus solitarius reduces brown adipose tissue thermogenesis, arterial pressure, and heart rate. (2018). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29590555/ DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00049.2018
    Complete structured claim and evidence

In the sources

Preserved passages that mention this component, quoted exactly. Open one to read it in context.

    This is a research prototype built from draft material. It is not medical advice, and its statements still await verification against the original studies.

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