Beige Fat Linked to Blood Pressure Regulation in Recent Studies

Recent scientific research has identified key roles for different types of body fat in blood pressure regulation, with a focus on beige fat and its genetic controls.

Beige fat, a thermogenic tissue found around blood vessels, has been shown to influence blood pressure by sending signals that relax arterial walls. This process contributes to the maintenance of healthy blood flow and vascular function. The findings highlight the importance of fat distribution and composition in cardiovascular health.

In laboratory studies, mice engineered to lack beige fat exhibited higher blood pressure and increased sensitivity of their blood vessels to angiotensin II, a compound that constricts blood vessels. Additional research in these mice indicated that the absence of beige fat led to elevated levels of the enzyme QSOX1, which was associated with fibrotic changes in blood vessels and the development of hypertension.

Analysis of human genetic data has identified variants in the PRDM16 gene, which is responsible for maintaining beige fat identity, as being linked to higher blood pressure. This association suggests a genetic component to the relationship between beige fat and cardiovascular regulation.

What the numbers show

• Over 14,000 adults were included in a study examining body fat and blood pressure
• Trunk fat mass showed the strongest positive association with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure
• In children, serum leptin explained about 79% of the body fat-blood pressure link in boys and 42% in girls

Body composition studies have further detailed how fat in specific regions of the body correlates with blood pressure. In a cohort of more than 14,000 young and middle-aged adults, higher trunk fat mass was identified as the strongest positive contributor to both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. In contrast, greater leg fat mass was associated with lower blood pressure readings.

Research involving school-aged children has shown that serum leptin, a hormone produced by fat tissue, mediates much of the relationship between body fat and blood pressure. The proportion of this effect was found to be higher in boys than in girls, indicating possible sex differences in the underlying mechanisms.

Other studies have found that inflammatory biomarkers, including insulin, adiponectin, osteocalcin, leptin, and parathyroid hormone (PTH), play a role in mediating the effects of body composition on blood pressure and the risk of developing hypertension. These biomarkers are involved in complex interactions between fat tissue and cardiovascular regulation.

Collectively, these findings from animal models, genetic studies, and population research provide evidence that both the type and location of body fat, as well as related biological markers, are important factors in blood pressure control.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.