-Chronic cold exposure successfully increased human BAT and decreased body fat.

-Stimulation of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels by ingestion of a non-pungent capsaicin analog (capsinoids) increased BAT.

-This has potential applications as a novel method of preventing and treating obesity and related metabolic disease targeting BAT.

Recent studies have shown that adult humans possess significant amounts of BAT, but whether it plays a role in preventing obesity or related metabolic disease was unclear. In this study, we showed that cold exposure or repeated ingestion of capsinoid (a nonpungent capsaicin analog) which acts on TRP channels can increase the amount of brown adipose tissue, and that this decreases body fat.

This finding suggests that BAT is an effective target when considering methods of preventing and treating obesity and metabolic syndrome, which are currently a global issues.

Toshihiko Iwanaga, Professor, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University

TEL: +81-11-706-5895

FAX: +81-11-706-5033

e-mail: tiwanaga@med.hokudai.ac.jp

Takeshi Yoneshiro, Research Fellow, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)

TEL: +81-11-706-7151

FAX: +81-11-706-7151

e-mail:yoneshiro@med.hokudai.ac.jp