Blood Pressure Drug Losartan May Also Activate Brown Fat
An analysis of medical records and PET/CT scans from more than 100,000 patients found that users of angiotensin receptor blockers, including losartan, were more likely to have detectable brown fat. Follow-up experiments in cultured brown fat cells showed that losartan increased metabolic activity through molecular pathways distinct from those that lower blood pressure. Researchers say this separation could allow future therapies to stimulate brown fat without affecting blood pressure.
Losartan belongs to the ARB drug family, prescribed for hypertension and to safeguard the heart and kidneys. The Nature study combined Rockefeller University’s molecular metabolism group, led by Paul Cohen, with Memorial Sloan Kettering researchers Heiko Schöder and Daniel Lafontaine. They examined records and imaging from over 100,000 patients, finding ARB users more often showed brown fat on scans.
In cell cultures, losartan boosted brown fat metabolism through routes separate from blood-pressure control. Healthy mice given the drug expended more energy, took in more oxygen, and released more carbon dioxide without changing weight. The same work linked brown fat to lower anxiety and depression rates, while SSRIs corresponded with less brown fat activity. A 2021 study of about 50,000 MSKCC patients had tied greater brown fat to fewer cardiometabolic conditions, including coronary artery disease.
Count: First paragraph: Losartan(1) belongs2 to3 the4 ARB5 drug6 family7, prescribed8 for9 hypertension10 and11 to12 safeguard13 the14 heart15 and16 kidneys17. The18 Nature19 study20 combined21 Rockefeller22 University’s23 molecular24 metabolism25 group26, led27 by28 Paul29 Cohen30, with31 Memorial32 Sloan33 Kettering34 researchers35 Heiko36 Schöder37 and38 Daniel39 Lafontaine40. They41 examined42 records43 and44 imaging45 from46 over47 100,00048 patients49, finding50 ARB51 users52 more53 often54 showed55 brown56 fat57 on58 scans59. =59. Second: In1 cell2 cultures3, losartan4 boost