title: Vitamin A and the regulation of fat reserves.
abstract: Beyond their classical nutritional roles, nutrients modify gene expression and function in target cells and, by so doing, affect many fundamental biological processes. An emerging example, which is the focus of this review, is the involvement of vitamin A in the regulation of the level and functioning of body fat reserves. Retinoic acid, the carboxylic acid form of vitamin A, is a transcriptional activator of the genes encoding uncoupling proteins, and results in animals indicate that whole body thermogenic capacity is related to the vitamin A status. Retinoic acid also influences adipocyte differentiation and survival, with high doses inhibiting and low doses promoting adipogenesis of preadipose cells in culture. Moreover, vitamin A status can influence the development and function of adipose tissues in whole animals, with a low vitamin A status favouring increased fat deposition.
authors.affiliation: Laboratori de Biologia Molecular, Nutrició i Biotecnologia, Departament de Biologia Fonamental i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Cra. Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07071 Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bonet
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ribot
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Felipe
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palou
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000502:physiology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D014801:Vitamin A