title: A nutritional perspective on UCP1-dependent thermogenesis.
abstract: Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) is the hallmark protein responsible for cold- and diet-induced thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue (BAT). UCP1 activity is protective against body fat accumulation. UCP1 has re-gained researchers' attention in the context of obesity following the realization that BAT is present and can be activated in adult humans and of inducible UCP1-expressing cells in white fat depots. UCP1-mediated thermogenesis is activated by specific food compounds, which function by stimulating sympathetic nervous system activity to adipose tissues and/or by acting on the adipose cells directly or indirectly, through humoral factors released upon their intake. The impact, functional consequences and potential mechanism of action of macronutrients, micronutrients and bioactive compounds impinging on UCP1 expression/activity is discussed, as well as emerging links between human genetic variation and differential responses to potential thermogenic food ingredients. Advances in this field can help dietary recommendations and strategies for long-term weight loss/maintenance and improved metabolic health.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Biotechnology - Group of Nutrigenomics and Obesity (NUO), Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca and CIBER de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Spain.
authors.forename: M Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bonet
authors.affiliation: Alimentómica S.L, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mercader
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Biotechnology - Group of Nutrigenomics and Obesity (NUO), Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca and CIBER de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Spain. Electronic address: andreu.palou@uib.es.
authors.forename: Andreu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palou
mesh_terms: D002001:Adipose Tissue, Brown / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D052436:Adipose Tissue, White / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D054647:Nutrigenomics; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects; D013566:Sympathomimetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D022722:Thermogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1 / Q000819:agonists* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D013566:Sympathomimetics; C000604371:UCP1 protein, human; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1
keywords: Bioactive food compounds; Brown adipose tissue; Diet-induced thermogenesis; Nutrigenetics; UCP1; White adipose tissue browning