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Help Grow Healthy Hair… |
| Brown fat (brown adipose tissue) is found
deep down in the subcutaneous layer of the skin (see diagram opposite).
It's often referred to as "baby fat" too because it comprises as much
as 5% of the body weight in a newborn baby. Brown adipose tissue levels decrease with age, but it has recently been discovered that it is still present in adults. It's most abundant in younger women and much less so in older, overweight men. |
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So, basically this means that most men lack brown fat (and suffer androgenetic alopecia), whereas most women and children possess higher levels (and suffer no androgenetic alopecia).
I do not believe this is simply a coincidence…
Research has shown that the follicles of vigorously growing hair are embedded in a layer of brown adipose tissue. But, in people with androgenetic alopecia there's a lack of it around dormant follicles: bald areas are mostly depleted of fat tissue, but in the lower rear (occipital) region where hair loss does not occur, a thick layer of fat tissue is present. It appears that this loss of fat layer occurs before follicle miniaturization and hair loss begins.
Source: see "Decreased subcutaneous fat layer" in skinbiology.com
This suggests that brown adipose tissue serves a supportive role for hair follicles and hair growth.
Androgenetic alopecia develops due to skull bone growth (skull expansion). This progressively constricts the blood vessels of the scalp and reduces the blood supply required by the follicles to grow hair. So, it may well be that brown fat will offer some resistance against this process.
I believe there are two possible reasons for this:
1. Angiogenesis (vascularization)
2. Cushioning effect against the skull expansion process
1. Angiogenesis (vascularization)
Brown fat encourages angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation).
Source: see abstract in fasebj.org
Hair undergoes a growth cycle. And during the growth phase, follicles will continuously try to grow deep down into the dermis of the skin where they can receive an abundant supply of blood. But in those with androgenetic alopecia, this process is hindered by skull expansion. So, if brown fat levels can be increased, this could create new blood vessels and allow healthy hair to grow.
2. A cushioning effect
Given that a layer of brown adipose tissue will increase the thickness of the dermis, it may provide a cushioning effect that can reduce blood vessel constriction and increase scalp flexibility.
How can you increase your scalp brown fat levels?
The Omega 3 fish oils, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acids) have been associated with brown fat activity. So, it may be that by consuming a very high Omega 3 diet you can do something to help your hair grow.
Perhaps the best evidence for this idea comes from the Inuit people (Eskimos) who consume extremely high levels of Omega 3 fish oils from their diet, and have a very low incidence of androgenetic alopecia: Learn more - ethnicity and hair loss.
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You might be able to increase your levels of brown adipose tissue from Omega 3 fish oil supplements containing EPA and DHA.
Alternatively, Omega 3 can be obtained from eating oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, etc. Vegetarian sources of omega 3 can be obtained from walnuts, pumpkin seeds, linseed (flax), etc. Note: vegetarian sources of omega 3 must be converted to EPA and DHA inside the body. |
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However, there is uncertainty as to how much Omega 3 will get converted into brown fat and then find it's way into your scalp.
Whilst diet might improve the growth of your hair, it is sensible to try a number of ideas in your battle against baldness: the hands-on techniques I used to regrow my own hair are now helping many others to do the same - Read reviews.
More BAT facts...
- BAT (i.e., brown adipose tissue) serves as a heat insulator, shock absorber and provides energy for the body.
- BAT has the ability to produce heat without the need for shivering and is of interest to scientists right now because it does this by burning calories from normal fat (white adipose tissue). This means that it may have an application in the weight loss industry.
- Recent research shows that BAT is related to skeletal muscle.
- BAT is brown because it is highly vascularized (i.e., it contains blood vessels) and contains a large number of mitochondria (which provide energy).
- Exposure to the cold will activate BAT activity.
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Reference:
sciencedaily.com
