Buttermilk and brown fat cell activity in lab tests
What it found
Different buttermilk samples changed how brown fat cells developed and worked in lab dishes.
Butter oil did not have the same effect.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Blocked early fat cell growth
One buttermilk sample stopped immature brown fat cells from developing further in lab dishes.
Boosted heat protein early on
Two other buttermilk samples raised levels of a key heat-making protein during cell development. This happened without any added chemical stimulant.
Stronger response to stimulation
When cells were given a chemical trigger, two buttermilk samples made them produce even more of the heat protein than usual.
Mature cells mostly unchanged
Most buttermilk samples did not change the heat protein levels in fully grown brown fat cells. One sample did raise baseline levels slightly.
Butter oil had no effect
Butter oil did not change the heat protein levels at any stage of cell growth in these lab tests.
What the authors conclude
- They suggest that buttermilk can influence how brown fat cells develop in lab settings.
- The authors propose it could be a useful food ingredient for fighting obesity.
How it was done
Brown fat cells burn energy as heat, which might help prevent or treat obesity. The researchers wanted to see if milk by-products could influence these cells.
They tested several buttermilk samples and butter oil on human brown fat cells grown in lab dishes. They looked at effects during cell development and on mature cells.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- These are lab tests on cells in dishes.
- They cannot show what happens when people eat buttermilk.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Kyoto University, Japan; Milk Science Research Institute, Japan; Kitasato University School of Veterinary Medicine, Japan
The paper
- Title
- Modulation of brown adipocyte activity by milk by-products: Stimulation of brown adipogenesis by buttermilk
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Animals and lab studies
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Asano H, Kida R, Muto K, et al (2016). Modulation of brown adipocyte activity by milk by-products: Stimulation of brown adipogenesis by buttermilk. Cell biochemistry and function. doi:10.1002/cbf.3241PubMed 27935133DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error