# Medical researchers... question about the human heart's functions

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-researchers-question-about-the-human-hearts-functions/764674>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 1, 2016, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-researchers-question-about-the-human-hearts-functions/764674 "2016-09-01T17:53:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Clarence01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@Clarence01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clarence01)\
**Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-researchers-question-about-the-human-hearts-functions/764674/1 "2016-09-01T17:53:54Z")

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The human heart functions better with a certain level of fat attached to it, right? What level is optimal? Is it better with zero fat? Does it get even lighter after zero fat? Can you describe the best case scenario according to the most modern science? Regards

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**Author:** ![Oly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oly/32/8255_2.png) [@Oly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oly)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2016, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-researchers-question-about-the-human-hearts-functions/764674/2 "2016-09-03T15:40:44Z")

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Interesting question. I can’t answer it, but this seems like a good place to start:

> **[Epicardial Fat: Definition, Measurements and Systematic Review of Main
Outcomes](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3998169/)**
>
> Epicardial fat (EF) is a visceral fat deposit, located between the heart and the
> pericardium, which shares many of the pathophysiological properties of other visceral
> fat deposits, It also potentially causes local inflammation and likely has...

It’s from the makers of PubMed, so probably reliable.

Let us know what you find out!