Brown Adipose Tissue in Morbidly Obese Subjects

Vijgen, Guy H. E. J.; Bouvy, Nicole D.; Teule, G. J. J.; Brans, Boudewijn; Schrauwen, Patrick; Lichtenbelt, Wouter D. van Marken

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0017247

Cited by 340 publications

(364 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…However, interindividual variation in the onset temperature of shivering has been reported, with some individuals starting to shiver at temperatures lower than 16-18°C [24]. As the thermogenesis of BAT is deemed to be at its highest just before the onset temperature of shivering [24], it is possible that BAT was not maximally activated in some of our study participants. As it is unknown whether the onset temperature of shivering differs between ethnic groups, it remains unclear whether our findings of a lack of ethnic differences in BAT activity were affected.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…This cooling method has been shown to be effective for the assessment of BAT activity in several other studies [8,9,15]. However, interindividual variation in the onset temperature of shivering has been reported, with some individuals starting to shiver at temperatures lower than 16-18°C [24]. As the thermogenesis of BAT is deemed to be at its highest just before the onset temperature of shivering [24], it is possible that BAT was not maximally activated in some of our study participants.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

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Cold-induced activity of brown adipose tissue in young lean men of South-Asian and European origin

et al. 2013

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Aims/hypothesis South Asians have a disproportionately high risk of developing abdominal obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) has been identified as a possible target to fight obesity and protect against metabolic disturbance. We explored whether lower BAT activity in South Asians compared with Europids may contribute to the high risk of metabolic disturbance. Methods We studied 20 healthy men (ten Europids/ten South Asians, BMI 19-25 kg/m 2 , age 18-32 years). Following 2 h of cold exposure (16-18°C) after an overnight fast, 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose ( 18 F-FDG) positronemission tomography-computed tomography (CT) and 123 I-metaiodobenzylguanidine ( 123 I-MIBG) single-photon emission computed tomography-CT were performed to visualise metabolic BAT activity and sympathetic stimulation of BAT. Metabolic BAT activity was defined as maximal standardised uptake value (SUV max ) of 18 F-FDG, and sympathetic stimulation of BAT as semiquantitative uptake value (SQUV) of 123 I-MIBG. We performed hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamps to assess insulin sensitivity. Spearman's correlations for SUV max of 18 F-FDG and both SQUV of 123 I-MIBG and insulin sensitivity were determined. Results The median (interquartile range) SUV max of 18 F-FDG in South Asians (7.5 [2.2-10.6] g/ml) was not different from the median SUV max obtained in Europids (4.5 [2.2-8.4] g/ml; p=0.59). There was no correlation between BAT activity and insulin sensitivity. Correlations between SQUV of 123 I-MIBG and SUV max of 18 F-FDG were positive, both in the total population (ρ=0.80, p<0.001) and after stratification by ethnicity (Europids, ρ =0.65, p = 0.04; South Asians, ρ=0.83, p=0.01). Conclusions/interpretation This is the first study to prospectively investigate ethnic differences in metabolic BAT activity during cold exposure. We did not find differences in BAT activity between South Asians and Europids. Therefore, it seems unlikely that BAT plays an important role in the development of unfavourable metabolic profiles in South Asians.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Cold-induced activity of brown adipose tissue in young lean men of South-Asian and European origin

et al. 2013

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“…Experimental mouse and human obesity models evidence that additionally to diminished or defective BAT function (Himms-Hagen and Desautels 1978; Avram et al 2005b;Vijgen et al 2011;Claessens-van Ooijen et al 2006;van Marken Lichtenbelt et al 2009), obese individuals have blunted cold-induced thermogenesis and were proposed to have a larger insulative response (Wijers et al 2010). Additionally, genetically obese ob/ob mice were shown to be cold sensitive, perhaps due to the fact that their BAT is usually thermogenically inactive, atrophied with low UCP1 levels (Carter et al 2013), but also from defects in centrally controlled thermogenesis.…”

Section: Brown Adipose Tissuementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Also, in transgenic mice with increased BAT activity due to overexpression of UCP1, there is enhanced energy expenditure and resistance to DIO (Kopecky et al 1995). In morbidly obese human subjects, expression of UCP1 in BAT was shown to be significantly reduced in comparison to lean controls (Vijgen et al 2011). It is speculated that the absence of adequate amounts of BAT could lead to a severe overweight condition (Vijgen et al 2011;van der Lans et al 2013).…”

Section: Brown Adipose Tissuementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In morbidly obese human subjects, expression of UCP1 in BAT was shown to be significantly reduced in comparison to lean controls (Vijgen et al 2011). It is speculated that the absence of adequate amounts of BAT could lead to a severe overweight condition (Vijgen et al 2011;van der Lans et al 2013). However, mice with an inactive Ucp1 gene do not have increased susceptibility to DIO (Liu et al 2003), leading to an alternative interpretation that overall, metabolic efficiency is reduced in individuals with lower levels of UCP1-based thermogenesis (Butler and Kozak 2010).…”

Section: Brown Adipose Tissuementioning

confidence: 99%

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Obesity and related consequences to ageing

Jura

Kozak

2016

AGE

298

172

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Obesity has become a major public health problem. Given the current increase in life expectancy, the prevalence of obesity also raises steadily among older age groups. The increase in life expectancy is often accompanied with additional years of susceptibility to chronic ill health associated with obesity in the elderly. Both obesity and ageing are conditions leading to serious health problems and increased risk for disease and death. Ageing is associated with an increase in abdominal obesity, a major contributor to insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome. Obesity in the elderly is thus a serious concern and comprehension of the key mechanisms of ageing and age-related diseases has become a necessary matter. Here, we aimed to identify similarities underlying mechanisms related to both obesity and ageing. We bring together evidence that age-related changes in body fat distribution and metabolism might be key factors of a vicious cycle that can accelerate the ageing process and onset of age-related diseases.

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Weather permitting: Increased seasonal efficiency of nonshivering thermogenesis through brown adipose tissue activation in the winter

Niclou

Ocobock

2021

American J Hum Biol

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Objectives We investigated seasonal changes in brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation and metabolism in a temperate‐climate Albany, NY population. Methods Data were collected among 58 participants (21 males, 37 females, ages: 18–51) in the summer and 59 participants (23 males, 36 females, ages: 18–63) in the winter in Albany, New York. BAT activity was inferred by comparing metabolic rate, heat dissipation in the supraclavicular area, and respiratory quotient at room temperature and cold exposure. Seasonal variation in BAT was determined by comparing these measurements from summer and winter. Results At mild cold exposure, heat dissipation of the supraclavicular area was significantly greater in the winter compared to summer (p < .001); however, no significant differences were found between seasons in metabolic rate measurements. This suggests BAT activation may be metabolically more efficient in the winter, due to prolonged lower seasonal temperatures relative to summer. Respiratory quotient significantly increased upon mild cold exposure in the winter compared to summer (p < .001). While carbohydrate utilization increased in the winter, fat remained the primary metabolic substrate for BAT activity across both seasons. Conclusion The seasonal variations in the effects of nonshivering thermogenesis on metabolic rate and substrate metabolism suggest a buffering of energy expenditure and an increased use of glucose as fuel by BAT as a result of acclimatization to cold in the winter. These findings point towards a potential role of BAT in human whole‐body mediated glucose disposal and cold adaptation.

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Brown Adipose Tissue in Morbidly Obese Subjects

Cited by 340 publications

References 27 publications

Cold-induced activity of brown adipose tissue in young lean men of South-Asian and European origin

Cold-induced activity of brown adipose tissue in young lean men of South-Asian and European origin

Obesity and related consequences to ageing

Weather permitting: Increased seasonal efficiency of nonshivering thermogenesis through brown adipose tissue activation in the winter

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