The link between obesity and mitochondria

Obesity has been found to reduce mitochondrial gene expression in fat or adipose tissue in the body. A reduction in the expression of these genes can affect how our bodies process energy. The twin study was undertaken by researchers from the Obesity Research Unit of the University of Helsinki (Finland), and comprised 49 sets of identical twins. Their body composition and metabolism were analyzed, biopsies from adipose and muscle tissue were collected and proteomic, metabolomic and genome-wide gene expression data were examined. The results of the study, published in Cell Reports Medicine, demonstrated that obesity causes a reduction in mitochondrial...