Hormonal

Chronic dietary administration of menthol activates TRPM8 channels in brown adipose tissue, triggering a PKA-dependent upregulation of UCP1 that increases thermogenesis and prevents diet-induced obesity and glucose intolerance in mice.

This research suggests that chronic consumption of menthol (specifically 0.5% of diet in mice) can activate cold-sensing channels in fat tissue to burn calories and prevent obesity. While promising in mice, translating this to humans requires confirming that adult humans have sufficient TRPM8 expression in brown fat and that dietary menthol doses are safe and tolerable long-term. It is not a quick fix but a potential metabolic modulator.