· Study led by UOH academic Marcelo Flores, indicates that the excess accumulation of this adipose tissue could cause insulin resistance, inflammation and muscle atrophy, among other effects in people.
A new study, led by the academic of the Institute of Health Sciences (ICS) of the University of O’Higgins (UOH), Dr. Marcelo Flores, relates the excessive accumulation of intermuscular adipose tissue to metabolic and health conditions, which They can cause muscle atrophy, reduced function, inflammation, insulin resistance, cardiovascular problems, and unhealthy aging, among other effects.
“The appearance of intermuscular adipose tissue, a type of fat that accumulates between the muscles, is related to serious cardiovascular and metabolic health problems. This type of fat exists in all people in small quantities and has a very important role in maintaining muscle mass. However, when it accumulates in excess, it can trigger insulin resistance, inflammation, muscle atrophy or alter the contractile capacity of muscles (ability to generate force), increase functional and mobility problems in older people and even accelerate the process of aging”, points out the UOH academic.
He adds that intermuscular adipose tissue can increase for various reasons, both in young people and in older adults. “The most important cause is the decrease in physical activity. As the muscles contract less in sedentary people, the necessary stimuli are not generated to keep the cells that make up this type of adipose tissue in an inhibited state,” explains the Doctor of Health Sciences.
Intermuscular adipose tissue can also increase considerably when there is muscle injury. “The decrease in daily physical activity and muscle injury alter the function of fibro-adipogenic precursor cells. These cells, in a normal state, favor the maintenance of muscle mass and its function and are essential for muscle health,” says Flores.
He warns that when their function is altered due to inflammation derived from a muscle injury or lack of muscle contraction, “these cells form adipocytes that accumulate fat and also fibrous tissue that together will alter the functions of the muscle tissue.”
Dr. Flores details that they are currently continuing to investigate the factors that explain why this adipose tissue is generated and to know how its formation can be prevented without affecting the function of muscle tissue.
The research “Fibro-adipogenic progenitors in physiological adipogenesis and intermuscular adipose tissue remodeling” is led by Dr. Marcelo Flores (UOH) and Dr. Osvaldo Contreras from the Víctor Chang Research Institute (Sydney, Australia). Researchers Daniel Kopinke, Françoise Helmbacher, Rodrigo Fernández, Mauro Tuñón and Gordon S. Lynch collaborated with them.
