They store and dispense energy, expanding and shrinking but never disappearing. A guide to their world.
By Regina Nuzzo
Special to The Times
Los Angeles Times – Health Section
June 2, 2008
FAR FROM being simply dumb, jumbo-size refrigerators of the cellular world, fat cells are now recognized by scientists as leading surprisingly active and influential lives.
They play a role in myriad bodily functions, research suggests, such as regulating hunger and fighting off infection. But under the wrong conditions, fat cells’ natural propensities can backfire — leading to increased risk for various modern lifestyle diseases, including heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and some cancers.
“Fat cells are surprisingly complicated,” says Dr. David Heber, professor of medicine at the UCLA Geffen School of Medicine and director of the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition. “They’re more than a bag of fat.”
