Hormones, heat, and health: a comprehensive review of sex-based differences in brown and beige fat biology
Chikkamagaluru Gopalakrishna Shashank, Raga Mandali, Umesh D. Wankhade

TL;DR
This review explores how brown and beige fat function differently in males and females, highlighting the role of hormones and sex-specific differences in thermogenesis and metabolic health.
Contribution
The paper provides a comprehensive analysis of sex-based differences in brown and beige fat biology, emphasizing hormonal regulation and implications for metabolic disease.
Findings
Females consistently show higher BAT volume and thermogenic activity compared to males, influenced by estrogen.
Beige adipocytes originate from diverse progenitor cells and show sex-dependent activation in response to environmental and hormonal cues.
Endocrine disruptors like BPA and phthalates impair beiging and promote BAT whitening with sex-specific effects.
Abstract
This review takes a close look at the biology of brown and beige fat, not just as thermogenic tissues, but as active metabolic organs influenced by sex, hormones, age, and even environment. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) and beige adipocytes differ in their origins, gene expression, and regulation. These differences are especially relevant when considering how they behave in males and females. Across both animal and human studies, females show higher BAT volume and more efficient thermogenic activity. Estrogen, acting mainly through estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), increases uncoupling protein 1(UCP1) expression, promotes mitochondrial biogenesis, and supports the formation of beige fat within white adipose tissue. In contrast, testosterone and glucocorticoids tend to reduce thermogenic gene expression and shift fat storage toward visceral depots, which increases metabolic risk, particularly…
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Taxonomy
TopicsAdipose Tissue and Metabolism · Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases · Cardiovascular Disease and Adiposity
