Energy balance
Acquired obesity in humans is associated with a significant reduction (approx. 47%) in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number in subcutaneous adipose tissue, which correlates with insulin resistance and liver fat.
This study found that people with acquired obesity have significantly fewer mitochondria in their fat tissue. This structural change may contribute to insulin resistance and liver fat. While this doesn't prescribe a specific diet, it highlights that metabolic health involves more than just total calories; the specific handling of amino acids by fat tissue matters.
mtDNA copy number was reduced by 47% in the obese co-twin’s fat. ... lending clinical relevance to the findings, in both sexes the observed aberrations in mitochondrial amino acid metabolism pathways in fat correlated closely with liver fat accumulation, insulin resistance, and hyperinsulinemia.
Why this rating
High-quality observational design using monozygotic twins controls for genetics.
Source
Global Transcript Profiles of Fat in Monozygotic Twins Discordant for BMI: Pathways behind Acquired Obesity
Kirsi H. Pietiläinen et al. · PLoS Medicine · 2008
DOI 10.1371/journal.pmed.0050051
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