Watch and track your favorite playlist.
Curated by: Ben Bikman (139 videos)
📢 Ask Dr. Bikman’s Digital Mind (multilingual): https://benbikman.com/ben-bikmans-digital-ai-mind 📢 Dr. Bikman’s Community & Coaching Site: https://insuliniq.com Topic: Nuclear receptors inside fat cells respond to lipid-soluble signals and help determine whether cells become fat cells and how they store energy. Although drugs, dietary fats, cortisol, and environmental chemicals can influence these receptors, insulin remains the dominant upstream signal controlling fat-cell growth and storage. Summary: Dr. Ben Bikman explains how nuclear receptors influence fat cell development, fat storage, and metabolic health. Nuclear receptors are proteins inside the cell nucleus that respond to small lipid-soluble signals—such as fatty acids, bile acids, thyroid hormone, cortisol, and steroid hormones—and translate those signals into changes in gene expression. In fat cells, these receptors help determine whether a precursor cell becomes a fat cell and how that fat cell behaves once it exists. The main focus is PPAR gamma, the master regulator of adipogenesis, or the formation of new fat cells. Ben emphasizes that insulin sits upstream of this entire process: insulin drives PPAR gamma expression and orchestrates the fat-cell-building program. The lecture then connects this biology to diabetes drugs known as TZDs, which activate PPAR gamma to improve insulin sensitivity by creating more small, functional fat cells. While this can improve blood glucose control and raise adiponectin, it often causes fat gain. Ben also discusses how dietary fatty acids can modestly influence PPAR gamma activity and how cortisol, acting through the glucocorticoid receptor, can promote visceral fat accumulation. The practical takeaway is that while we cannot avoid every chemical signal that touches these receptors, we can control the dominant upstream hormonal signal: insulin. Keeping insulin low and stable through carbohydrate control remains the most practical strategy for keeping fat-cell nuclear receptor signaling in a healthier state. References: For complete show notes and references, we invite you to become an Insider subscriber. You’ll enjoy real-time, livestream Metabolic Classroom access which includes live Q&A with Ben after the lecture, unlimited access to Dr. Bikman’s Digital Mind, ad-free podcast episodes, show notes and references, and Ben’s Weekly Research Review Podcast. Learn more: https://www.benbikman.com Translation Notes: You can click the gear icon at the bottom of this video to auto-translate captions. For example, to translate into Polish, select Subtitles, choose Auto-Translate, then first choose English, then choose Auto-Translate again, then choose Polish.) Also, Dr. Bikman’s Digital Mind can interact with you in many languages: https://benbikman.com/ben-bikmans-digital-ai-mind In addition, our channel has access to YouTube’s innovative “auto-dubbing” feature. The process supports translations from English into many languages, with more to come. Click on the gear icon, then choose “Audio track” to access. (This availability is often delayed several weeks or more, so check back often.) Timestamps (approximate): 00:07 — Introduction: Nuclear Receptors and Fat Cells 01:05 — Fat Cells Are Not Passive Containers 02:06 — What Nuclear Receptors Are 03:06 — How Nuclear Receptors Turn Genes On and Off 04:07 — RXR and the PPAR Family 06:14 — PPAR Gamma: The Master Regulator of Fat Cells 07:49 — How PPAR Gamma Builds the Fat Cell Program 10:09 — Why Insulin Sits Upstream of PPAR Gamma 11:07 — TZD Drugs and PPAR Gamma Activation 13:13 — Why TZDs Improve Glucose but Increase Fat Mass 15:14 — Dietary Fatty Acids as PPAR Gamma Signals 18:42 — Why Dietary Fat Alone Does Not Drive Fat Storage 21:46 — Cortisol, the Glucocorticoid Receptor, and Visceral Fat 25:00 — Obesogens: Environmental Chemicals That Affect Fat Cells 27:15 — Insulin as the Dominant Signal in Fat Accumulation NOTE: The information presented is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Dr. Bikman is not a clinician—and, he is not your doctor. Always seek the advice of your own qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions. #NuclearReceptors #PPARGamma #FatCells #Adipogenesis #InsulinResistance #MetabolicHealth #Insulin #Obesogens #Cortisol #VisceralFat #Adiponectin #TZD #DiabetesDrugs #FatStorage #EndocrineDisruptors #BPA #Phthalates #DrBenBikman #MetabolicClassroom #MetabolismMatters Ben’s favorite yerba mate and fiber: https://ufeelgreat.com/usa/en/c/1BA884 Exogenous ketones: A high-quality option is the NSF-certified goBHB from Clean Form Nutrition, where you can use the code BEN10 for a 10% discount: https://cleanformnutrition.com/products/go-bhb Ben’s favorite meal-replacement shake: https://gethlth.com (discount: BEN10)