Cold Exposure With Shivering May Improve Insulin Sensitivity
New research finds that gradual cold exposure that induces visible shivering may improve metabolic health, helping prevent Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
As temperatures drop, one positive thing may be said for frigid weather: It makes us shiver, and shivering is good for metabolic health.
A new study has found that cold exposure combined with shivering may enhance insulin sensitivity and provide a valuable lifestyle strategy for managing obesity-related metabolic disorders.
Shivering Is Key
The study, conducted at Maastricht University Medical Centre in the Netherlands and published in Nature Metabolism on Dec. 6, involved 15 overweight or obese adults aged 40 to 75 years, including nine participants who were glucose intolerant. Over 10 days, participants were subjected to intermittent cold exposure, which induced shivering.
George Citroner
Author
George Citroner reports on health and medicine, covering topics that include cancer, infectious diseases, and neurodegenerative conditions. He was awarded the Media Orthopaedic Reporting Excellence (MORE) award in 2020 for a story on osteoporosis risk in men.
