PubHawk
February 2014 PMID 24506871

Irisin and FGF21 are cold-induced endocrine activators of brown fat function in humans.

Paul Lee, Joyce D Linderman, Sheila Smith, Robert J Brychta, Juan Wang, Christopher Idelson, Rachel M Perron, Charlotte D Werner, Giao Q Phan, Udai S Kammula, Electron Kebebew, Karel Pacak, Kong Y Chen, Francesco S Celi

Download social card

Mentions

111
Peak: 4 in Feb 2019
across 5 sources since Feb 2019

Extended reach

471,225
potential audience

Total likes

1,716

Video views

94,283

Mentions per month

Feb 2019 – Sep 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News70 articles
  • X / Twitter16 posts
  • Facebook15 posts
  • Blogs8 articles
  • YouTube2 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

Overall, the discussions reflect a cautious acceptance of the research, highlighting key points such as cold exposure's role in hormone activation and metabolic health benefits. The tone varies from supportive comments to skepticism, with some users referencing additional studies and methods, indicating moderate curiosity and recognition of the article's relevance.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions support the findings, especially regarding cold exposure increasing irisin and FGF21, though some skepticism about related claims is present.

InterestModerate interest

Participants show moderate interest, engaging with concepts like brown fat activation, cold-induced hormones, and metabolic health benefits.

EngagementNeutral engagement

Many responses involve brief reactions or citations, with limited deep analysis or methodological discussion, indicating moderate engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

The discussions suggest the findings are seen as potentially significant but not universally transformative, with some users questioning the evidence.

Abstract in brief

  • Cold exposure increases levels of irisin and FGF21 in humans, with irisin secretion related to shivering intensity, indicating a link between cold, muscle contraction, and fat browning.
  • Both irisin and FGF21 promote brown fat characteristics and thermogenesis in human fat cells, highlighting their roles as key signals in adaptive heat production.
  • The study suggests that exercise and cold exposure may activate a muscle-fat communication pathway involving irisin and FGF21, which could be targeted for obesity treatments.]
Read the full abstract

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
محمد العامري
@md_alameri · X

وفقًا للمركز البحثي @GarvanInstitute، فإن 10 دقائق من "الارتعاش" في البرد يحرق دهون أكثر من ساعة واحدة من التمارين، ويساعد على فقدان الوزن. المصدر: https://t.co/wmQSH6hoNY #وش_تقول_للبرد https://t.co/IldsZa4PHO

Feb 3, 2019 · 10 likes · 4 shares · 123,373 followers View post →
Thomas P Seager, PhD
@seagertp · X

@JBianco215 Cold exposure increases FGF21 by activating brown fat (which secretes the neuroprotective hormone). https://t.co/kdtbgPopIw https://t.co/EX7gn7eike

Jun 18, 2023 · 7 likes · 2 shares · 13,115 followers View post →
Spiegelman Lab
@LabSpiegelman · X

@metapredict @DanielJDrucker @PNASNews This is clearly not true. Irisin has been shown to increase with human exercise in two separate studies using Mass Spectrometry. If you have Mass Spec data to the contrary, I urge you to publish it. https://t.co/uB2ItIGTNI https://t.co/CU9dDw84OI

Sep 1, 2022 · 7 likes · 2 shares · 3,992 followers View post →
أ.د. محمد علي الأحمدي
@DoctorAlahmadi · X

الدراسة نشرت في 2014 Irisin and FGF21 Are Cold-Induced Endocrine Activators of Brown Fat Function in Humans https://t.co/cddp6xywhW https://t.co/16w0aWJIgQ

Nov 14, 2023 · 5 likes · 57,350 followers View post →
Haroldo Falcão, MD
@haroldofalcao · X

#coldshower Irisin is also mediator triggered by cold-induced stimulus Ref.: https://t.co/2NfajIG7V1

Oct 19, 2019 · 1 like · 611 followers View post →
محمد العامري
@md_alameri · X

RT @E3REFar: وفقًا للمركز البحثي @GarvanInstitute، فإن 10 دقائق من "الارتعاش" في البرد يحرق دهون أكثر من ساعة واحدة من التمارين، ويساعد على…

Feb 4, 2019 · 4 shares · 123,373 followers View post →

All mentions

Shiban Amaru
@Titokoster · X

Irisin and FGF21 Are Cold-Induced Endocrine Activators of Brown Fat Fu... https://t.co/5IFqoLhv6P

Sep 13, 2025 · 150 followers View post →
أ.د. محمد علي الأحمدي
@DoctorAlahmadi · X

الدراسة نشرت في 2014 Irisin and FGF21 Are Cold-Induced Endocrine Activators of Brown Fat Function in Humans https://t.co/cddp6xywhW https://t.co/16w0aWJIgQ

Nov 14, 2023 · 5 likes · 57,350 followers View post →
Joe B
@JBianco215 · X

RT @seagertp: @JBianco215 Cold exposure increases FGF21 by activating brown fat (which secretes the neuroprotective hormone). https://t.co/…

Jun 18, 2023 · 2 shares · 4,574 followers View post →
Thomas P Seager, PhD
@seagertp · X

RT @seagertp: @JBianco215 Cold exposure increases FGF21 by activating brown fat (which secretes the neuroprotective hormone). https://t.co/…

Jun 18, 2023 · 2 shares · 13,115 followers View post →
Thomas P Seager, PhD
@seagertp · X

@JBianco215 Cold exposure increases FGF21 by activating brown fat (which secretes the neuroprotective hormone). https://t.co/kdtbgPopIw https://t.co/EX7gn7eike

Jun 18, 2023 · 7 likes · 2 shares · 13,115 followers View post →
Jessica Perugini
@JessicaPerugin3 · X

RT @LabSpiegelman: @metapredict @DanielJDrucker @PNASNews This is clearly not true. Irisin has been shown to increase with human exercise i…

Sep 2, 2022 · 2 shares · 244 followers View post →
Daniel J Drucker
@DanielJDrucker · X

RT @LabSpiegelman: @metapredict @DanielJDrucker @PNASNews This is clearly not true. Irisin has been shown to increase with human exercise i…

Sep 1, 2022 · 2 shares · 34,802 followers View post →
Spiegelman Lab
@LabSpiegelman · X

@metapredict @DanielJDrucker @PNASNews This is clearly not true. Irisin has been shown to increase with human exercise in two separate studies using Mass Spectrometry. If you have Mass Spec data to the contrary, I urge you to publish it. https://t.co/uB2ItIGTNI https://t.co/CU9dDw84OI

Sep 1, 2022 · 7 likes · 2 shares · 3,992 followers View post →
Prof. Biology
@ResearchBiology · X

Cell Metabolism- Irisin and FGF21 Are Cold-Induced Endocrine Activators of Brown Fat Function in Humans. Exercise and cold exposure as key for brown adipose tissue activation and metabolic health. https://t.co/NJw3pWTJiI

Mar 7, 2022 · 631 followers View post →
ぱにち@私治療垢（ASD
@panichicle · X

代謝上げるには褐色脂肪細胞を増やすのが良いはず

Dec 25, 2020 · 111 followers View post →
Haroldo Falcão, MD
@haroldofalcao · X

#coldshower Irisin is also mediator triggered by cold-induced stimulus Ref.: https://t.co/2NfajIG7V1

Oct 19, 2019 · 1 like · 611 followers View post →
Nooga
@Nooga04125712 · X

RT @E3REFar: وفقًا للمركز البحثي @GarvanInstitute، فإن 10 دقائق من "الارتعاش" في البرد يحرق دهون أكثر من ساعة واحدة من التمارين، ويساعد على…

Mar 3, 2019 · 4 shares · 53 followers View post →
محمد العامري
@md_alameri · X

RT @E3REFar: وفقًا للمركز البحثي @GarvanInstitute، فإن 10 دقائق من "الارتعاش" في البرد يحرق دهون أكثر من ساعة واحدة من التمارين، ويساعد على…

Feb 4, 2019 · 4 shares · 123,373 followers View post →
Sami AlMohiany
@AlMohiany · X

RT @E3REFar: وفقًا للمركز البحثي @GarvanInstitute، فإن 10 دقائق من "الارتعاش" في البرد يحرق دهون أكثر من ساعة واحدة من التمارين، ويساعد على…

Feb 4, 2019 · 4 shares · 633 followers View post →
عبدالوهاب سليمان
@bosuliman95 · X

RT @E3REFar: وفقًا للمركز البحثي @GarvanInstitute، فإن 10 دقائق من "الارتعاش" في البرد يحرق دهون أكثر من ساعة واحدة من التمارين، ويساعد على…

Feb 3, 2019 · 4 shares · 752 followers View post →
محمد العامري
@md_alameri · X

وفقًا للمركز البحثي @GarvanInstitute، فإن 10 دقائق من "الارتعاش" في البرد يحرق دهون أكثر من ساعة واحدة من التمارين، ويساعد على فقدان الوزن. المصدر: https://t.co/wmQSH6hoNY #وش_تقول_للبرد https://t.co/IldsZa4PHO

Feb 3, 2019 · 10 likes · 4 shares · 123,373 followers View post →