Swedish study explores differences in how the sexes break down fat

Lipolysis is more effective in women than in men, which could partly explain why women are less likely to develop metabolic complications than men, despite having more body fat

2025-05-09

(Press-News.org) The research focused on lipolysis, the process through which triglycerides – lipids stored in fat cells – are broken down to produce free fatty acids and glycerol, which can be used as energy, during exercise or between meals.

“The breakdown of lipids through lipolysis is essential for energy balance and it is believed that doing it effectively may prevent type 2 diabetes and other metabolic complications of overweight and obesity,” says Professor Peter Arner, of the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

“Indeed, lipolysis is more effective in women than in men, which could be one reason why women are less likely to develop metabolic complications than men, despite having more body fat.”

Hormones called catecholamines play a key role in activating lipolysis and regulating the various steps in the process and it is known that when levels of these hormones increase, due to psychological stress or during exercise, for example, lipolysis is activated more strongly in women than in men.

A better understanding of how this occurs could pave the way for drugs and other treatments that lower the risk of type 2 diabetes in men with overweight and obesity.

To find out more, Professor Arner and Dr Daniel P Andersson, of the Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge in Stockholm, measured lipolysis in abdominal subcutaneous fat cells from adult women (n=774) and men (n=298).

The cells were incubated alone or with increasing concentrations of several catecholamines that are known to act at different steps in lipolysis.

The amount of glycerol released was used to measure the amount of lipolysis.

This revealed that the fat cells from the women were less sensitive to the catecholamines than the fat cells from the men, meaning that that higher concentrations were needed to activate and regulate lipolysis.

However, when lipolysis was activated, it took place at a faster rate in the cells from the women than in those from the men.

Professor Arner says: “Exercise is known to make it easier for catecholamines to activate lipolysis and so men might be able to increase their protection against type 2 diabetes and other metabolic conditions by increasing the amount of physical activity they do.

“Longer-term, our findings could aid in the development of drugs that lower the risk of type 2 diabetes in men.”

END

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Antibiotics taken during infancy linked to early puberty in girls

2025-05-09

Girls given antibiotics during their first year of life, especially in the first three months, are more likely to enter puberty at an earlier age, according to research presented at the first Joint Congress between the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) and the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE). The likelihood of early puberty was also higher among those exposed to a greater variety of antibiotic classes. The findings highlight the importance of using these medicines in infants appropriately ...

Real-world evidence links long-term use of oral and inhaled steroids to adrenal insufficiency

2025-05-09

Individuals taking steroid tablets for more than 3 months are over 6 times more likely to be diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency than those treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, according to research presented at the first Joint Congress between the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) and the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE). In addition, they have a greater risk of being hospitalised for adrenal insufficiency, while long-term users of inhaled steroids have an increased risk of developing adrenal insufficiency but without any increase in the number of hospitalisations. The findings ...

Phthalates may impact key genital measurement in 3-year-olds

2025-05-09

Three-year-old boys are more likely to have a shorter anogenital distance when their mothers have high levels of phthalates in their urine, according to research presented at the first Joint Congress between the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) and the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE). In girls, the direct exposure to phthalates was associated with a shorter anogenital distance. The findings highlight how exposure to environmental pollutants can cause alterations in genital measurements during the first three years of life, which may affect sexual development and fertility later in life. Phthalates ...

Phosphate levels in blood strongly affect sperm quality in men

2025-05-09

Men with fertility issues have lower levels of phosphate in the blood than average, according to research presented at the first Joint Congress between the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) and the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE). In addition, low phosphate concentrations in the blood were associated with reduced sperm motility in infertile men. The findings can help researchers improve the understanding of the biological factors involved in male reproductive health, which could lead to new fertility treatments. Over the past 50 years, sperm counts worldwide have halved, sperm quality has declined alarmingly and 15% of all heterosexual couples are ...

Testosterone during pregnancy linked to physical activity and muscle strength in children

2025-05-09

Boys born to mothers who have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or who have higher levels of testosterone during the third trimester are more likely to be less physically active at age 7, according to research presented at the first Joint Congress between the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) and the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE). Testosterone levels or PCOS in the mothers were not associated with physical activity in girls, but 7-year-old girls whose mothers had higher testosterone levels during pregnancy had lower muscle strength. The findings highlight the important role that maternal testosterone and PCOS may play in future development in boys and girls ...

Menopause at an earlier age increases risk of fatty liver disease and metabolic disorders

2025-05-09

Women who experience menopause before the age of 50 — and especially before the age of 45 — are more likely to develop fatty liver disease and its related metabolic risk factors within one year after menopause, according to research presented at the first Joint Congress between the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) and the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE). This study is the largest to assess this association over five years and suggests that the age of natural menopause should be considered part of the cardio-metabolic risk assessment ...

Early-life growth proved important for height in puberty and adulthood

2025-05-09

Growth patterns during the first two years of a child’s life may shape pubertal growth and adult height, but have little effect on pubertal timing, according to research presented at the first Joint Congress between the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) and the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE). The findings highlight the importance of early-life growth, which could be used as a marker to predict future growth, development and health. It is well established that the early-life growth period — from conception to approximately two years of age — is crucial ...

Women with infertility history at greater risk of cardiovascular disease after assisted conception

2025-05-09

Women who experience infertility are more likely to develop heart and blood vessel conditions later in life, with younger women and those who undergo fertility treatments at a greater risk. The findings, presented at the first Joint Congress between the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) and the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE), highlight the importance of considering a woman’s reproductive history when assessing her long-term heart health. Approximately one in every six people of reproductive age worldwide is estimated to experience infertility in their lifetime. Treatment of infertility ...

UO researcher develops new tool that could aid drug development

2025-05-09

Computer simulations help materials scientists and biochemists study the motion of macromolecules, advancing the development of new drugs and sustainable materials. However, these simulations pose a challenge for even the most powerful supercomputers. A University of Oregon graduate student has developed a new mathematical equation that significantly improves the accuracy of the simplified computer models used to study the motion and behavior of large molecules such as proteins, nucleic acids and synthetic materials such as plastics. The breakthrough, published last month in Physical Review Letters, enhances researchers’ ability to investigate the motion ...

Call for abstracts: GSA Connects 2025 invites geoscientists to share groundbreaking research

2025-05-09

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 9 May 2025 The Geological Society of America Release No. 25-06 Contact: Katie Busser +1-303-357-1044 kbusser@geosociety.org Boulder, Colo., USA: The Geological Society of America (GSA) invites scientists, researchers, and professionals from across the globe to submit abstracts for its annual meeting, GSA Connects 2025, taking place 19–22 October 2025 in San Antonio, Texas, USA. Held annually, GSA Connects is one of the premier international gatherings in the geoscience community, offering a dynamic platform for sharing cutting-edge research and fostering interdisciplinary dialogue. This year’s meeting ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

The greater a woman’s BMI in early pregnancy, the more likely her child is to develop overweight or obesity, Australian study finds

The combination of significant weight gain and late motherhood greatly increases a woman’s risk of breast cancer, UK study finds

Weight-loss drugs cut alcohol intake by almost two-thirds, research in Ireland suggests