When it comes to fatty tissue, most people first think of annoying pads that look ugly and are difficult to get rid of. But the energy depots also have important functions for our metabolism.
It is not just the proportion of fat in the body that is decisive for health. Regular training can also optimize the fat tissue in such a way that it protects once morest age-related diseases. This is the result of a study by the University of Copenhagen.
Fat as an important source of energy
The fat deposits in the body have important functions in maintaining our metabolism. Like all cells in the body, fat cells contain mitochondria. These produce the cell energy ATP from hydrogen and oxygen. The conversion produces a waste product, namely oxygen free radicals, which are toxic. Healthy mitochondria are able to independently break down these toxic oxygen radicals. But with age, the functionality of the mitochondria decreases. If the waste products can no longer be broken down, this can lead to secondary mitochondrial diseases such as Krebs, Diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and Alzheimer to lead.1
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Investigating the functionality of adipose tissue in Danish men
Even if the aging process cannot be reversed, a high level of exercise can at least prevent the adipose tissue from gradually losing its functionality. That’s according to a study from the University of Copenhagen that looked at the relationship between aging, exercise and the maintenance of adipose tissue function in men.
Also interesting: The fitter you are, the easier it is for your body to burn fat
The study looked at 20- to 32-year-old untrained men and 62- to 73-year-old men who had exercised either not at all, moderately or a lot throughout their lives. All study participants were healthy and had a BMI below 30. The researchers drew blood samples and performed a biopsy of the subcutaneous fat tissue. They then examined the samples taken to measure the mitochondrial function of the fat cells, as well as the metabolic factors in the white adipose tissue and blood plasma.2
The result was surprising: the function of the mitochondria to produce energy had decreased significantly in the older subjects compared to the younger participants – regardless of how much they trained. But the fat cells of older men who had trained all their lives might produce more than twice as much energy as those of their untrained peers. In addition, they had significantly more mitochondria than the untrained subjects.
Adipose tissue can be optimized through training
The conclusion of the scientists: Regular training can optimize the function of fat cells, which can reduce the risk of age-related diseases. In a statement from the university, study leader Anders Gudiksen, assistant professor at the Institute of Biology at the University of Copenhagen, explains: “Although mitochondrial function decreases with age, we can see that a high level of lifelong exercise exerts a strong balancing effect.” Our results show that you can actually train your fatty tissue very hard – but you don’t have to cycle 200 kilometers a week to achieve a positive effect. What you shouldn’t do is not move at all.”3
Also interesting: Hardly any strenuous training reduces body fat best
Limitations of the Study
Prof. Gudiksen and his colleagues emphasize that the study cannot be considered representative. Finally, only males in certain age groups were studied. In addition, none of the participants were under medical treatment or taking prescription drugs at the time of the examinations, which is certainly contrary to the majority of the population. Further research in this area is already being planned.
