Adipose tissue is far more important for our health than many may realise. It does not merely function as an energy store, but as an active tissue that continuously communicates with the rest of the body. This communication requires a dense network of blood vessels, which supply nutrients and help regulate the body’s immune system.

The new study, recently published in Nature Metabolism, shows that the network of blood vessels changes markedly in obesity and type 2 diabetes and that the blood vessels themselves appear to be linked to mechanisms that drive disease.

Focusing on the rigours of elite cycling, Flinders University experts have put performance-enhancing and other dietary supplements under the microscope, rating some more highly than others.

From carbs, beetroot juice and the latest sports gels, the new research highlights how a range of dietary supplements may help improve cycling performance, working to support the body’s energy systems and reducing fatigue during exercise.