Losartan Drug Found to Enhance Metabolism by Activating Brown Fat
A recent study indicates that losartan, a common blood pressure medication, boosts brown fat activity, potentially improving metabolic health.
Losartan enhances brown adipose tissue activity, aiding metabolism.
The study analyzed over 100,000 PET/CT scans to link brown fat to various health outcomes.
Research suggests losartan may offer new therapeutic avenues for metabolic and psychiatric health.
A groundbreaking study published on October 14 in Nature reveals that losartan, a medication typically prescribed for hypertension, significantly boosts the activity of brown adipose tissue, commonly referred to as brown fat. Conducted by researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine, Rockefeller University, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, this preclinical investigation suggests that repurposing losartan could provide a novel therapeutic approach to enhance brown fat metabolism, which is associated with better cardiovascular health.
Brown fat differs from white fat in that it burns calories to generate heat rather than storing energy. The study analyzed PET/CT scans from over 100,000 patients, focusing on those that identified brown fat in six anatomical regions, including the neck and around vital organs. This research builds on previous findings by Dr. Paul Cohen, who discovered that individuals with brown fat had a lower incidence of cardiometabolic diseases such as coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes.
Dr. Nicolás Gómez-Banoy, the study's first author, quantified brown fat activity in patients and noted that its location significantly impacts health outcomes. For instance, increased activity in the axillary region was linked to a lower risk of hypertension. Overall, patients with brown fat exhibited improved glycemic control, lipid profiles, and echocardiographic indices, along with reduced inflammatory markers. Notably, those on angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) like losartan had higher brown fat levels.
The researchers further explored how losartan influences brown fat metabolism by conducting experiments on cultured brown fat cells, discovering that the drug enhances metabolic activity through distinct molecular pathways. This finding suggests potential for future therapies aimed at stimulating brown fat without affecting blood pressure. Additionally, healthy mice treated with losartan showed increased energy expenditure and oxygen consumption, indicating enhanced metabolism while maintaining stable body weight.
The implications of this study extend beyond metabolic health, as it also uncovered a correlation between brown fat and mental well-being, with lower rates of anxiety and depression observed in individuals with brown fat. The research opens new avenues for exploring additional medications that may influence brown fat activity and understanding the genetic factors associated with higher brown fat levels, potentially leading to innovative treatments for both metabolic and psychiatric conditions.
