Brown Fat and Its Thermoregulatory Role in the Human Neonate

Brown fat is a unique thermogenic organ. Though small in quantity and diffuse in distribution, it plays a vital role in body temperature regulation and energy balance in both animals and humans by its adaptive heat producing capacity. Several factors affect the functional capabilities of brown adipose tissue including nutritional status and maturity of the different organ systems of the body especially in the newborn infants. Recent findings using molecular techniques have provided better understanding of the regulation of brown fat activity that may have some implications for therapeutic purposes particularly in treating obesity. An overview of the brown fat and its relevance to newborn babies is presented in this article. (JPBS 2010;Volume 23 No.2:5-10)