Health benefits of bone marrow fat tissue revealed

A new study has revealed that hormone adiponectin which is secreted by bone marrow fat tissue has many health benefits.

The study led by University of Michigan found that it helped in maintaining insulin sensitivity, break down fat and has also been linked to decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity-associated cancers.

Ormond MacDougald, Ph.D., said that the findings were significant because they have found that bone marrow adipose tissue might have protective role and could influence adaptive functions outside of the bone tissue, at least during calorie restriction.

The study also found that both marrow adipose tissue and adiponectin increased in humans with anorexia, and in patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment for ovarian or endometrial cancer.

William Cawthorn, Ph.D., said that bone marrow adipose tissue traditionally had a bad reputation because of its relationship to decreased bone mass but they now know that adipose tissue within marrow goes beyond the bone and also serves as an endocrine organ that could influence metabolism.

The research is published in online-ahead-of-print issue of Cell Metabolism.

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