201 | id == 201
201 | category_id == 18
201 | category_order == 15
201 | category_name == Weight
201 | category_color == #C47AC0
201 | slug == UCP3-Weight
201 | title == Does This Gene Influence Your Risk of Obesity and Diabetes? (UCP3)
201 | meta_description == UCP3 encodes a protein involved in energy and fat metabolism. Learn about its variants associated with obesity and diabetes.
201 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong>UCP3 encodes a mitochondrial protein involved in energy expenditure and fatty acid breakdown. Variants of this gene have been associated with excess weight and diabetes. Read on to learn if your genes make you more prone to gain weight.</strong></p>
201 | overall_score_text == Your Weight Score (Based on UCP3 Gene)
201 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/UCP3--Weight.jpg
201 | author_id == 12
201 | author_name == Carlos Tello
201 | author_title == PhD
201 | author_order == 55
201 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/CarlosTello.webp
201 | author_intro == <p><strong>Carlos received his PhD and MS from the Universidad de Sevilla.</strong></p>    <p>Carlos spent 9 years in the laboratory investigating mineral transport in plants. He then started working as a freelancer, mainly in science writing, editing, and consulting. Carlos is passionate about learning the mechanisms behind biological processes and communicating science to both academic and non-academic audiences. He strongly believes that scientific literacy is crucial to maintain a healthy lifestyle and avoid falling for scams.</p>
201 | author_social_media_name == linkedin
201 | author_social_media_icon == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/social-icon/linkedin.png
201 | author_social_order == 1
201 | author_social_link == https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlos-tello-lacal-b946b4a7/
201 | reviewer == None
201 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
201 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
201 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
201 | publish_date == 2020
201 | publish_date == 6
201 | publish_date == 4
201 | avg_rating == 5.0
201 | tags_id == 186
201 | tags_name == BMI
201 | tags_id == 462
201 | tags_name == Body Fat
201 | tags_id == 127
201 | tags_name == Diabetes Type 2
201 | tags_id == 468
201 | tags_name == Energy Expenditure
201 | tags_id == 165
201 | tags_name == Obesity
201 | tags_id == 467
201 | tags_name == UCP3 Gene
201 | tags_id == 115
201 | tags_name == Weight Gain
201 | permissions_favorite == False
201 | permissions_rate == False
201 | content_article == <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">This article is for informational purposes only. None of the information here should be taken as medical advice. If you are struggling to maintain a healthy weight, seek medical help. </span></em><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Keep in mind that these results are based on association studies, which are correlative and aren&rsquo;t necessarily causative. Any single genetic variant will typically contribute only a small proportion to the overall risk of the condition, and non-genetic factors play a large role in developing a condition as well. Therefore, just because you have one of these genotypes does not necessarily mean you are at an increased risk of developing this condition!</span></em></p> <h2><strong>What Is the <em>UCP3 </em>Gene?</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a href="../../gene/ucp3/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">UCP3 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> encodes a protein called &lsquo;</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">uncoupling protein 3</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">&rsquo;. In the </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/mitochondria/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">mitochondria</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (the main powerhouse of cells), the breakdown of nutrient fuels is </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">coupled </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">to the production of the energy molecule ATP. Members of the uncoupling protein family prevent the production of this molecule and instead cause the energy to be dissipated as heat [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3060851/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27091404"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">UCP3 is mainly found in muscles, but also present in smaller amounts in heart and brown fat tissues. Fasting and acute exercise increase the expression of the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">UCP3 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene, while endurance training reduces or increases it depending on the study [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9180264/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9196039/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9305858/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10950831/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1664806/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15743387"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18845781"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The biological function of UCP3 remains poorly understood. Although it can block ATP generation to produce heat, just as its sister protein </span><a href="../article/weight-loss-ucp1-59"><span style="font-weight: 400;">UCP1</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, research suggests its main role is to break down fatty acids and remove them from the inner side of the mitochondria. This may reduce oxidative damage and preserve mitochondrial function [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5157057/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18713955"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12958165/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9369223/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The <em>UCP3 </em>gene encodes a mitochondrial protein mainly found in the muscles and involved in energy expenditure and fatty acid breakdown.</span></p> <h3><strong>UCP3 in Weight Control and Insulin Resistance</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Engineered mice producing high UCP3 amounts had increased appetite, were protected from diet-induced obesity, and showed higher spontaneous physical activity and fatty acid breakdown in the muscles [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10935638/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14673524/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15814607/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4046190/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Surprisingly, mice lacking </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">UCP3 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">showed neither obesity nor a reduced energy expenditure rate. Some scientists argued that the housing conditions at high temperature might have caused temperature </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/63-factors-raising-stress-cortisol-level-backed-science/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">stress</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and masked the effects of the protein [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10748195/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10748196/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4322621/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Interestingly, UCP3 is also produced in the pancreatic cells that produce insulin. A study found that prediabetic and diabetic individuals had lower UCP3 levels in their muscles, which were increased after treatment with the antidiabetic drugs rosiglitazone and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/uses-benefits-metformin/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">metformin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/18167556/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9726246/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16384852/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5291441/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mice overproducing UCP3 had lower fasting </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/glucose/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">glucose</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and insulin levels, increased blood sugar clearance, and enhanced insulin tolerance despite being fed high-fat diets. Studies in mice lacking </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">UCP3 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">often showed reduced </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/top-tips-for-fixing-insulin-resistance/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">insulin sensitivity</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, but the results were mixed and dependent on the age of the mice [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10935638/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1888566/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18713955/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21058020/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10748196/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Research in mice suggests that higher UCP3 activity protects from diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance.</span></p> <h2><strong><em>UCP3 </em>Variants Associated with Weight and Diabetes</strong></h2> <h3><strong>Rs1800849</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The most widely-investigated </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">UCP3 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">polymorphism by far is </span><a href="../../snp/rs1800849/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs1800849</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, also known as -55C/T.</span></p> <h4><strong>Weight</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The major allele &lsquo;G&rsquo; was associated with obesity in Mexicans, and with abdominal obesity in Malaysians [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3738539/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25812254/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In two Spanish studies, the minor allele protected from obesity but only among those physically active or when inherited together with some </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">UPC2 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">variants. In a Japanese study, carriers of this variant had lower BMI and higher </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/hdl-cholesterol/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">HDL</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">-</span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/cholesterol/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">cholesterol</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> levels. This variant also protected from obesity in American and British Caucasians [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16006788/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17870627/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18249216/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15870396/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11319649/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In diabetics, the &lsquo;G&rsquo; allele conferred increased BMI especially if combined with a variant of the </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/ppargamma-role-weight-gain-inflammation-natural-activators/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">PPAR&gamma;</span></em></a><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">2 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene. The &lsquo;A&rsquo; allele was associated with lower BMI but the difference was reduced in people eating high-calorie diets. Conversely, another study in diabetics associated this allele with </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">higher </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">BMI and waist circumference [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27089973/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24026107/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21897112/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, multiple studies from Denmark, the US, Canada, Malaysia, Japan, Turkey, and Germany failed to associate this polymorphism with obesity [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9498661/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11238538/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15910756/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9700198/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1950055/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24345699/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4347541/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28704105/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12395215/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Surprisingly, the minor variant was associated with </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">increased </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">BMI in two studies on obese Spanish and French populations [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10753049/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19913848/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The results of meta-analyses are similarly controversial: one found no association between this polymorphism and obesity in Asian and European descendants, another one found it protective in Europeans, and a third one associated it with a slightly increased BMI in Asians [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3613358/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24752406/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4013025/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">All in all, some studies suggest that the minor variant at this polymorphism may protect from obesity, especially in Caucasians. The mixed results observed may be due to differences in the diet, physical activity, and genetic background of the different populations. Importantly, different </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">UPC2 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">and </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">UPC3 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">variants are inherited together and their combinations may influence their effects on weight [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19413708/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Some studies suggest that the minor <em>UCP3 </em>variant may protect from obesity. The results are mixed, possibly due to differences in the diet, physical activity, and genetic background of the different populations.</span></p> <h4><strong>Fat Distribution</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The less common &lsquo;A&rsquo; variant has been associated with a higher waist circumference, resulting in a higher waist to hip ratio, in studies on populations from Germany, Spain, Great Britain, and South India. Similarly, this variant was associated with higher abdominal fat in Mexicans [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12756473"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11151767/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19913848/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6082227/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, a Spanish study found no relationship between this polymorphism and fat mass or distribution in obese. Another study on American women associated it with increased lean mass and calorie intake [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17728536"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15045692/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The minor variant has also been associated with higher blood cholesterol levels (total, </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/ldl-cholesterol/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">LDL</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and HDL) [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11126413/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2754982/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18249216/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Studies often associated the minor variant of this SNP with increased waist circumference and higher blood fat levels.</span></p> <h4><strong>Diabetes</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &lsquo;A&rsquo; allele has been associated with prediabetes in a rural Chinese population and with type 2 diabetes in British men [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5848510/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16644712/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, it had no relationship with type 2 diabetes in a Danish study and even </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">reduced </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">the risk of developing this condition in French and Asian Indian populations. In line with this, the &lsquo;G&rsquo; variant was the one associeted with type 2 diabetes in obese Brazilian women and a Colombian population [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11484089/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11126413/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21175267/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28977211/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19753844/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Two meta-analyses confirmed the association of the &lsquo;A&rsquo; variant with increased susceptibility to type 2 diabetes in Asians but not in Europeans [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3554780/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21751002/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The minor <em>UCP3 </em>variant has been associated with type 2 diabetes in Asians. However, this variant seems protective in Europeans and South Americans.</span></p> <h4><strong>How It Works</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The rs1800849 polymorphism is located in the gene region that controls UCP3 expression (the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">promoter</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">) [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10643679/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A study in Pima Indians found that the minor allele &lsquo;A&rsquo; increases </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">UCP3 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">expression, and possibly the levels of the protein, in the muscles [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10643679"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This variant has been associated with higher resting energy expenditure in Chinese people and African American women [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16215931"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11916758/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The minor variant increases <em>UCP3 </em>expression and has been associated with increased resting energy expenditure. Higher <em>UCP3</em> may help with weight loss.</span></p> <h3><strong>Other Variants</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The minor variants at the </span><a href="../../snp/rs647126/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs647126</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="../../snp/rs2075577/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs2075577</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> polymorphisms were associated with increased BMI in Dutch men. Based on their effect, the authors of the study speculated that these variants may reduce UCP3 activity [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18426825"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The rs2075577 polymorphism was also associated with increased HDL-cholesterol levels in Koreans [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17512314"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The minor variants of two less widely-investigated polymorphisms have been associated with increased BMI.</span></p> <h2><strong>Your <em>UCP3 </em>Results for Weight</strong></h2> <p>*1662488021313302*</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3><strong>SNP Summary and Table</strong></h3> <p><strong>Primary SNP:</strong></p> <p><strong><em>UCP3 </em></strong><strong>rs1800849</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = normal risk of obesity and diabetes</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = reduced risk of obesity in Caucasians and increased risk of diabetes in Asians</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">About 2 out of 3 people carry two copies of the &lsquo;G&rsquo; allele</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &lsquo;A&rsquo; variant is especially rare in people of African and American descent</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>Other Important SNPs:</strong></p> <p><strong><em>UCP3 </em></strong><strong>rs647126</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = normal BMI</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = increased BMI</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; is the major allele but &lsquo;GA&rsquo; is the most common genotype (42% worldwide)</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; is rarest in African descendants. In contrast, it&rsquo;s the most common variant in people with East and South Asian backgrounds&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <p><strong><em>UCP3 </em></strong><strong>rs2075577</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = normal BMI</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = increased BMI</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; is the major allele but &lsquo;AG&rsquo; is the most common genotype (41% worldwide)</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; is rarest in African descendants. In contrast, it&rsquo;s the most common variant in people with East and South Asian backgrounds</span></li> </ul> <p>*1975197693340791*</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2><strong>Recommendations to Improve Weight Control</strong></h2> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">You may try the complementary approaches listed below if you and your doctor determine that they could be appropriate for you. Discuss the strategies listed here with your doctor. Remember that none of them should ever be done in place of what your doctor recommends or prescribes.</span></em></p> <p>*5183507853826268*</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3><strong>Diet</strong></h3> <h4><strong>High-Protein, Low-Carbohydrate Diets</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a Spanish study, weight loss and blood insulin and leptin levels were similar after either a low-fat or a low-carbohydrate diet in obese carriers of both rs1800849 variants [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18825612"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, three more recent studies by the same group found that obese carriers of the &lsquo;G&rsquo; allele experienced a higher reduction in weight, fat mass, waist circumference, and blood fats after adopting a high-protein/low-carbohydrate diet, a conventional low-calorie diet, or a low-calorie diet rich in monounsaturated fatty acids [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26848765/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18348082/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24174365/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Eating a </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/low-carb-diet-vs-high-carb-diet/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">high-fat diet</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is associated with lower </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">UPC3 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">expression in the muscles of rats, suggesting that dietary fats may suppress the beneficial effect of the &lsquo;A&rsquo; variant on obesity prevention [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10517262"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some research suggests that getting more calories from proteins (as opposed to either carbohydrates or fat) may support </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/a-comprehensive-list-of-effective-ways-to-lose-weight/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">weight loss</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, metabolism, and satiety. High-protein diets appeared to increase fat burning and weight loss and reduce appetite in a handful of human studies [</span><a href="http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/82/1/41.abstract"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10193874"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10375057"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a clinical trial on 119 overweight people, a low-carbohydrate </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/ketogenic-diet-ketosis-health-benefits-physiology-genetics/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">ketogenic diet</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> was as effective as a low-fat diet for weight loss but had the advantages that it reduced appetite and negative affect. A meta-analysis of 13 studies and over 1,500 people concluded that low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets are more effective than low-fat diets for losing weight [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17228046"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23651522"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4><strong>Fish &amp; Seafood</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In mice and rats, dietary fish oil increased </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">UCP3 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">expression in the muscles and reduced obesity and insulin resistance [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29413492"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3823866/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3459737/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10208878"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11584083/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fish is hypothesized to reduce leptin; higher leptin is associated with obesity. In young, overweight men, the inclusion of either lean or fatty fish or </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/top-22-science-based-health-benefits-of-fish-oil/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">fish oil</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> as part of an energy-restricted diet resulted in approximately 1 kg more weight loss after 4 weeks compared to a similar diet without seafood or a supplement [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15361771"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17502874"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fish oil&rsquo;s anti-inflammatory effects have the ability to indirectly aid in fat metabolism in people with high inflammation or metabolic syndrome. It can increase the secretion of </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/adiponectin/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">adiponectin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which is responsible for breaking down fats [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18065585/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16567512/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a large meta-analysis of 21 clinical trials, fish oil in combination with lifestyle changes significantly reduced waist-to-hip ratio although it failed to improve weight loss [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4646500/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4><strong>Intermittent Fasting</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a small trial on 14 people, eating a very low-calorie diet for 5 days caused a ~2-fold increased expression of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">UCP3 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">[</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC508469/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In mice and rats, repeated cycles of fasting and refeeding increased </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">UCP3 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">expression in the muscles and prevented high-fat-induced obesity [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24175565"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6953068/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/intermittent-fasting/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Intermittent fasting</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> describes any diet in which a person eats their required caloric intake during predetermined periods of time and fasts during the remaining time. Some people choose to eat only during specific times of day (for example, between 10 AM and 6 PM), while others choose to fast for one or two entire days per week.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fasting every other day for 12 weeks caused 32 people to lose an average of 12 pounds more than those who followed a daily program of calorie restriction. These people ate 25% of their calories every other day [</span><a href="http://www.nutritionj.com/content/12/1/146"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a clinical trial on 52 women, caloric intake after 8:00 PM increased the risk of obesity, independent of </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/sleep-neurophysiology/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">sleep</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> timing and duration [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21527892/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Time-restricted feeding, a strategy in which a person only eats during a specific window of time each day, has also produced good results for weight loss. However, time-restricted feeding was not as effective as other forms of intermittent fasting, according to a meta-analysis of the practice [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6836017/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6627766/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6004924/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4><strong>Dark Chocolate</strong></h4> <p><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/health-benefits-cocoa/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cocoa</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> enhanced energy expenditure and increased UCP3 levels in mice and rats [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26738802"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4223041/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25132363"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cocoa contains polyphenols that are believed to promote weight gain, though clinical studies are few and far between. In one study, daily consumption of 49 grams of dark chocolate reduced snacking, suggesting that cocoa might decrease appetite or cravings [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4546094/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a study in rats, those fed cocoa had less fat production in the belly. In mice, cocoa consumption reduced weight gain and fat uptake in the gut. Cocoa also reduced inflammation associated with </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/132-biological-mechanisms-for-weight-modulation/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">obesity</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and improved </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/insulin-101/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">insulin</span></a><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/top-tips-for-fixing-insulin-resistance/"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> resistance</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15850966"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23494741"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Eating a diet high in proteins and low in fats and carbohydrates, practicing intermittent fasting, and including more fish and dark chocolate in the diet may help lose weight and increase UCP3 activity.</span></p> <h3><strong>Lifestyle</strong></h3> <h4><strong>Exercise</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A Colombian study found an association of the major &lsquo;G&rsquo; variant of rs1800849 with obesity only in people who didn't exercise much. Similarly, the &lsquo;A&rsquo; variant only prevented obesity in Spanish people with a high level of physical activity [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25504243/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16006788"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In contrast, a Danish study concluded that the rs1800849 genotype had no influence on weight loss due to physical exercise. This discrepancy may be due to the effects on the different types of exercise (acute versus endurance) on </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">UCP3 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">expression [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15520825"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10950831/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1664806/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15743387"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18845781"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">High-intensity </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/top-14-proven-health-benefits-exercise-references-mechanisms/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">exercise</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is probably the best strategy to lose weight. In addition to promoting fat and calorie burning, it may increase the levels of chemicals that support mental health and suppress appetite such as the neurotransmitters </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/norepinephrine-stress-hormone/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">norepinephrine</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/endorphins/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">endorphins</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and the neurotrophin </span><a href="../article/boost-plasticity-with-the-bdnf-gene-50"><span style="font-weight: 400;">BDNF</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/5124188"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="http://www.news-medical.net/news/20120717/Mu-opioid-receptors-put-brakes-on-appetite.aspx"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/neuro.24.005.2010/full"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Aerobic exercise (like walking, running, swimming, etc) has also been shown to cause major reductions in belly fat in multiple studies. Although the reason is not fully understood, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/health-benefits-yoga/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">yoga</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> can be a useful tool for </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/a-comprehensive-list-of-effective-ways-to-lose-weight/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">weight loss</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> too [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17637702"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21951360"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4995338/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5098025/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">,</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5198375/"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4><strong>Cold Exposure</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In animal studies, acute </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/12-reasons-embrace-cold/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">cold</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> exposure increased </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">UCP3 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">expression in the muscles and brown fat. However, prolonged exposure suppressed this effect [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24206444"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25294216"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9725803"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10481056"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9367914"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11247739"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12023047"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29143709"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cold increases metabolism and energy expenditure as the body has to adapt and produce more heat. In a clinical trial of 50 healthy men, those exposed to a cool environment overnight for a month had a 42% increase in brown fat with a corresponding 10% increase in metabolism [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4207391/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Exercise and cold exposure help reduce weight by increasing energy expenditure. Physical exercise influences the effects of <em>UCP3 </em>variants on obesity. In turn, acute cold exposure increases UCP3 activity but may have the opposite effect after longer periods.</span></p> <h3><strong>Supplements</strong></h3> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Green Tea</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a small trial on 11 obese women, supplementation with EGCG increased the expression of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">UCP3 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">and other genes involved in energy and fat metabolism. However, it didn&rsquo;t promote weight loss [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29482377"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In mice, EGCG had similar effects on </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">UCP3 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">expression and reduced dietary fat uptake, likely helping prevent weight gain [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3400462/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/green-tea/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Green tea</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">&rsquo;s active compound epigallocatechin gallate (</span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/green-tea/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">EGCG</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) caused between 0.2 and 3.5 kg of weight loss in limited human studies. Green tea, meanwhile, is hypothesized to make us burn more calories, even at rest. In most studies, this amounts to a modest 3-4% increase in energy, though some studies have shown an increase as high as 8%. For a 2,000 calorie diet, 3-4% amounts to an additional 60-80 calories per day [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19597519/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28627214/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29914623/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27883924/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">In one study of 60 obese individuals, the group taking green tea extract lost 7.3lbs and burned 183 more calories per day (on average) after 3 months [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18006026"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17882140"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></h4> <h4><strong>Calcium</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In mice fed high-fat diets, calcium supplementation increased UCP3 levels and prevented weight gain [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16520808"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15514275"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17588736"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A clinical trial of 53 people found that </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/calcium-101/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">calcium</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (600 mg/day) and </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/35proven-health-benefits-vitamin-d-part-1/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">vitamin D</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (125 IU/day) enhanced weight loss when combined with a restricted diet [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23297844"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In another study of 32 obese adults, increased dietary calcium promoted weight loss and fat loss, primarily in the abdomen. Participants who ate a low-calcium diet experienced about 19% of their fat loss from the abdominal region, while those who ate a high-calcium diet experienced about 50% [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15090625/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, a recent review of 41 studies concluded that calcium supplements don&rsquo;t increase total weight loss [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23297844"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4><strong>Conjugated Linoleic Acids</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In mice and hamsters, dietary CLA increased UCP3 levels in the muscles [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12086931"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12458620"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17381975"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Conjugated linoleic acids (</span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/conjugated-linoleic-acid/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">CLA</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) are poly-unsaturated fatty acids. Studies have shown that CLAs decrease lipid storage by increasing the rate of fat breakdown in fat tissue [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23956445"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A clinical trial on overweight Chinese subjects found that CLA supplementation over a 12-week period reduced body weight, BMI, total fat mass, fat percentage, waist to hip ratio, and subcutaneous fat mass [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22261578"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It should be noted, though, that CLA supplementation did not prevent weight or fat regain after initial weight loss in a similar study in obese people [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14506488"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16522907"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4><strong>Resveratrol</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Both resveratrol and a compound combining four molecules of this polyphenol (vaticanol C) increased UCP3 expression in the muscles of obese mice and rats [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23790948"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2882917/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In mice fed a high-fat diet, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/top-15-scientific-health-benefits-of-resveratrol-with-references/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">resveratrol</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> reduced </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/oxidative-stress-101/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">oxidative stress</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and prevented the death of protective immune cells called </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/treg/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tregs</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25156660/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Resveratrol stopped fat cells from making new fats and triggered their death, in cell-based studies. It accomplishes this by turning off genes that cause weight gain (such as </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/ppargamma-role-weight-gain-inflammation-natural-activators/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">PPAR gamma</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) and blocking fat-creating enzymes (fatty acid synthase, </span><a href="https://www.selfdecode.com/gene/LPL/?utm_source=seo&amp;#38;utm_medium=selfhacked&amp;#38;utm_campaign=id00002"><span style="font-weight: 400;">lipoprotein </span></a><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/lipase-test/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">lipase</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and hormone-sensitive lipase) while activating genes that enhance energy use and mitochondrial health (</span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/about-sirt3-and-natural-ways-to-increase-it/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">SIRT3</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, UCP1) [</span><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ptr.2503"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1847661/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Supplementing with EGCG, calcium, CLA, and resveratrol may help lose weight, in part by increasing UCP3 levels.</span></p>
201 | content_snp_table_1662488021313302_key == 1662488021313302
201 | content_snp_table_1662488021313302_blur == True
201 | content_snp_table_1662488021313302_hidden == False
201 | content_learn_more_1975197693340791_key == 1975197693340791
201 | content_learn_more_1975197693340791_blur == True
201 | content_learn_more_1975197693340791_hidden == False
201 | content_learn_more_1975197693340791_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your UCP3 gene is associated with obesity. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of obesity, just one gene related to it. Gene-specific lifestyle, dietary, and supplement interventions may help you maintain a healthy weight. Keep reading to find out more.
201 | content_recommendation_5183507853826268_key == 5183507853826268
201 | content_recommendation_5183507853826268_blur == True
201 | content_recommendation_5183507853826268_hidden == False
rsIDs = rs1800849,rs2075577,rs647126
rsStatus = rs1800849,UCP3,chr11,74009120,G,A,C,T,35,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs2075577,UCP3,chr11,74004497,G,A,,,23,15,HET
rsStatus = rs647126,UCP3,chr11,74000975,A,G,,,24,14,HET
