Cold exposure improves key cardiac markers

In particular, an increase in oxylipins derived from omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids was observed following cold exposure, which may be associated with human cardiometabolic health.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids are essential to the body, playing a key role in regulating metabolism, the immune system and the inflammatory response. In the body, these fatty acids are converted into compounds called oxylipins, which are responsible for performing the functions of the original fatty acids.

Simply put, omega-3 fatty acids are converted into oxylipins with anti-inflammatory functions and help eliminate inflammation, while oxylipins derived from omega-6 have pro-inflammatory functions.

Two hours of individual cold exposure

These scientists belong to the groups MP20-Biomarkers of Metabolic and Bone Diseases, MP22-Nutritional Biochemistry and Therapeutic Implications and TEC15-Nuclear and Molecular Medicine of ibs.GRANADA and the Universities of Granada, Almeria, Barcelona, ​​Leiden. and Vrije of Amsterdam exposed a total of 64 young people to individual cold exposure for 2 hours and performed blood tests before, after one hour and after two hours to determine levels of signaling lipids.

In this sense, research led Dr. Lucas Jurado-Fasolishowed that 2 hours of cold exposure increased levels of omega-3 and omega-6 oxylipins, as well as levels of endocannabinoids and lysophospholipids containing these polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Previous research has suggested that brown adipose tissue, a type of fat that helps regulate temperature and metabolism, may be the tissue involved in secreting signaling lipids in response to cold. To find out, after two hours of cold exposure, the amount and activity of brown adipose tissue was measured using PET/CT at the Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital in Granada. However, the observed changes in signaling lipids were not related to either the amount or activity of this tissue.

Weight differences

Additionally, Dr. Jurado-Fasoli notes that levels of omega-3 and omega-6 oxylipins increase more in people of normal weight compared to those who are overweight or obese. These changes in oxylipin levels were associated with a healthier cardiometabolic profile, such as decreased body fat and increased blood glucose, lipids, and transaminases.

These results suggest that individuals with high amounts of body fat and cardiometabolic risk factors may have an altered response to the secretion of these lipids when exposed to cold.

These results are consistent with previous work by the research team led by Dr. Jonathan R. Ruiz, in which they showed that oxylipins derived from omega-3 and omega-6 may be potential markers of cardiometabolic risk in humans.

Bibliographic link:

Jurado-Fasoli, L., Sanchez-Delgado, G., Di, H., Yang, W., Kohler, I., Villarroya, F., Aguilera, K.M., Hankemeier, T., Ruiz, Jr. and Martinez- Telles, B. (2024). Cold-induced changes in plasma lipid signaling are associated with a healthier cardiometabolic profile independent of brown adipose tissue.. Cell Reports Medicine, 5(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101387

Fountain: ibs.GRANADA