How brown fat processes fructose
Brown adipose tissue fructose metabolism
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO · NIH-11237096
This project looks at how fructose from food affects brown fat and how that may contribute to weight gain and type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11237096 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, researchers are studying how brown fat (a type of body fat that burns energy) handles fructose after eating. They use mice fed high-fructose diets and compare normal mice to those given antibiotics, and they test human brown fat cells in the lab using blood serum from fed animals. The team measures levels of a fructose transporter called Glut5 and watches whether brown fat changes in ways linked to obesity. Their lab work aims to connect what happens in cells and mice to processes that could matter for people who eat a lot of sugary foods.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who are overweight or have, or are at risk for, type 2 diabetes or who regularly consume high-fructose foods and beverages would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: People without metabolic disease concerns (for example, those not affected by excess weight or high sugar intake) or children may be unlikely to gain direct benefit from the findings in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or treat obesity and type 2 diabetes by targeting how brown fat handles fructose.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have established fructose handling in liver, intestine, and kidney, but the role of fructose transport in brown fat is largely new and has not been well tested before.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO — Chicago, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: LIEW, CHONG WEE — UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
- Study coordinator: LIEW, CHONG WEE
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions: Adult-Onset Diabetes Mellitus