Brown fat thermogenesis and exercise: two examples of physiological oxidative stress?

Abstract

Both brown fat tissue (BAT) and skeletal muscle experience large increases of oxygen consumption and oxygen radical generation during activation. This, together with the relatively low activities of antioxidant enzymes in these two tissues and the high lipid content and free fatty acid liberation of BAT, can produce a physiological oxidative stress. Increases of in vivo or in vitro (BAT) lipid peroxidation have been described in these tissues after activation. They react to this oxidative stress in an adaptive way after chronic stimulation. Cold acclimation increases antioxidant enzymes, ascorbate, and especially reduced glutathione (GSH) in BAT. There is controversy about the variations of antioxidants in skeletal muscle after acute exercise. Nevertheless, exercise training seems to increase muscle antioxidant enzymes and GSH. Many reports show that vitamin E levels decrease in the muscle and increase in plasma during exercise. Studies of vitamin E deficiency and supplementation strongly suggest that this vitamin is of protective value during exercise.

• Authors: G Barja de Quiroga
• Journal: Free radical biology & medicine (Free Radic Biol Med) Vol. 13 Issue 4 Pg. 325-40 (Oct 1992) ISSN: 0891-5849 [Print] United States
• PMID: 1398216 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Free Radicals
• Oxygen

Topics

• Adipose Tissue, Brown (metabolism)
• Animals
• Body Temperature Regulation (physiology)
• Free Radicals
• Oxidation-Reduction
• Oxygen (metabolism)
• Physical Exertion (physiology)