Reprogram Your Fat Cells
Author: Chris Shugart
Introduction
Does shrunken fat tissue retain a "memory" of being fat? And does it attempt to make you regain weight after you've successfully lost it? Scientific evidence suggests an affirmative answer. This article delves into the underlying mechanisms and presents strategies to counteract this phenomenon.
The High Rate of Weight Regain
Over 80% of individuals who manage to lose fat eventually experience weight regain. Experts attribute this to multiple factors, including unsustainable fad diets, a relapse into unhealthy eating habits, and the loss of metabolism - boosting muscle mass. While these are valid reasons, could there be additional underlying causes?
A Personal Perspective
I possess a unique vantage point on this matter. In my early 20s, I was on the verge of obesity. I managed to shed over 60 pounds and have since dedicated my life to maintaining a healthy weight. Over the years, I've gained approximately 30 pounds of muscle and have refrained from reverting to my previous poor eating habits. I'm among the fortunate 20% who have not regained the lost fat.
However, this journey has not been without its challenges. Until relatively recently, I often felt that my body was "programmed" to be fat. I was particularly skeptical of advice from trainers who had never struggled with weight issues, such as their recommendations for cheat meals or "bulking" diets. I knew that following such advice could easily lead to my weight creeping back up. Thus, I had to adhere to a strict diet and training regimen to keep the fat at bay.
A Turning Point
A few years ago, my approach to weight management underwent a significant transformation. Tim Patterson, the founder of Biotest, visited my office and presented me with a bottle of inky capsules, a new supplement he was developing. He claimed that "This product repairs sick and damaged fat cells!" I decided to give it a try, and within a few weeks, I noticed it was easier to maintain a lean physique. I could also re - introduce carbohydrates into my diet, which helped me build some additional muscle.
These capsules contained cyanidin 3 - glucoside (available for purchase on Amazon), later named Indigo - 3G by Tim, and marketed as a nutrient partitioning agent. Simplifying its mechanism, we often described it as "causing muscle to utilize calories instead of storing them as fat." While this is an oversimplification, it is not inaccurate.
New Insights from Research
Recent research has provided fresh perspectives on the concept of "broken fat cells" and may further elucidate how C3G functions.
Fat Tissue Has Memories
Swiss researchers conducted a series of human and animal studies. They concluded that adipose tissue retains an epigenetic memory of obesity even after an individual has lost weight. Fat cells "remember" their previous state, predisposing those who were once overweight to regain weight. (It's important to note that when you lose fat, the fat cells themselves remain; they merely shrink in size.)
They discovered that obesity induces epigenetic modifications - specifically, changes in DNA methylation and histone acetylation - in adipocytes (fat cells). These alterations persist even after fat loss, resulting in long - lasting changes in gene expression that favor fat storage and inflammation.
As part of their research, they extracted fat cells from both previously obese individuals and those who had never been obese. The scientific details are quite complex, but in essence, they found that obesity induces cellular and transcriptional (obesogenic) changes in adipose tissue that do not resolve after weight loss. In short, fat cells remain "diseased" even after weight reduction.
The researchers then took some mice, induced obesity in them, then helped them lose weight, and finally extracted their fat cells. These fat cells were found to absorb more sugar and fat compared to cells from mice that had never been obese. When both the previously obese mice and the never - obese mice were fed a high - calorie diet, the formerly fat rodents gained 14 grams, while the lean mice only gained 5 grams. The scientists termed this phenomenon "accelerated weight regain." They attributed all these findings to epigenetic obesogenic memory.
How Could C3G Help?
The scientists in the aforementioned studies were not specifically examining C3G. However, after thoroughly reviewing their research, I was reminded of Tim's statement: "C3G repairs sick and damaged fat cells." Could this substance potentially address epigenetic obesogenic memory? Here's what I uncovered:
Modulation of Gene Expression: C3G impacts enzymes that regulate epigenetic modifications, such as histone acetyltransferases (HATs), histone deacetylases (HDACs), and DNA methyltransferases. These enzymes modify DNA and histones, potentially reversing obesogenic gene expression patterns. Additionally, by activating AMP - activated protein kinase (AMPK), C3G aids in normalizing gene expression related to energy metabolism, thus reducing the influence of epigenetic changes that promote fat storage.
Anti - Inflammatory Effects: Chronic low - grade inflammation associated with obesity exacerbates epigenetic changes that favor fat storage and insulin resistance. C3G's anti - inflammatory properties help alleviate this issue, creating a healthier metabolic environment that is less conducive to obesogenic programming.
Improved Insulin Sensitivity: C3G enhances insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake in fat cells by promoting the translocation of GLUT4 to the cell membrane. Improved insulin signaling counteracts epigenetic changes that impede glucose metabolism, thereby helping to reduce fat accumulation.
Promotion of Fat Oxidation: C3G stimulates fat oxidation and reduces fat storage, in part by activating pathways such as AMPK. This counters the epigenetic memory that favors energy storage over expenditure. C3G also induces the browning of white fat, increasing mitochondrial activity and thermogenesis, which are compromised by epigenetic obesogenic programming.
Reduction of Oxidative Stress: Obesogenic memory is exacerbated by oxidative stress, which can lead to DNA and histone modifications. C3G's antioxidant properties reduce oxidative damage, potentially preventing further exacerbation of these epigenetic changes.
Potential to Influence Microbiota: The gut microbiota interacts with the host epigenome and influences metabolism. C3G positively modulates the composition of the gut microbiota, disrupting obesogenic programming reinforced by a dysbiotic (unbalanced) microbiome.
Long - Term Metabolic Reprogramming: By enhancing metabolic flexibility and reducing inflammation, C3G aids in sustaining fat loss and preventing weight regain, even in individuals predisposed to obesity due to epigenetic memory.
Does C3G "Erase" the Memories of Fat Cells?
While we cannot yet claim that C3G completely "erases" the memories of fat cells, it undoubtedly makes it easier for those with a history of obesity to maintain a lean body. For some reason, it worked for me, and the scientific evidence supports its potential benefits. If you wish to try it, the recommended dosage is 300 mg of C3G daily, which is equivalent to four capsules of Indigo - 3G (available on Amazon).
Reference
- Hinte. "Adipose tissue retains an epigenetic memory of obesity after weight loss." Nature, 18 November 2024.
