Effect of BMI on the Thermogenic Response to Cold Exposure and Associated Changes in Metabolism and Browning Markers in Adult Humans

Abstract

Introduction. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) serves to produce heat by non-shivering thermogenesis. Activation of BAT increases energy expenditure and is seen as a putative strategy to treat obesity. There is conflicting data on the capacity for cold induced thermogenesis in individuals with higher BMI. Methods. To investigate the effect of BMI on cold-induced stimulation of energy expenditure, changes in the metabolic profile, and the expression of browning markers in subcutaneous white adipose tissue (scWAT), healthy adults (N=173, 50.9 % females) with a median age of 26.0 [Interquartile range (IQR): 23.0;28.0] years and a median BMI of 23.6 [IQR: 21.9;26.6] kg/m² were exposed to short-term mild cold exposure (CE). Resting energy expenditure (REE) was measured by indirect calorimetry and blood sampling was conducted at baseline and after CE. In a subgroup of participants with obesity, subcutaneous abdominal fat biopsies were taken before and after CE. Results. The cold-induced median increase in REE was 74 (IQR: -28; 241) kcal/day (p<0.001). This increase negatively correlated with BMI (p<0.001). Participants with BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m² displayed a significant median increase of 103 kcal/day (p<0.001), participants with overweight or obesity were not able to increase REE (23, p=0.468 or - 30 kcal/day, p=0.917, respectively). In participants with obesity, expression of Cell death activator (CIDEA) in scWAT after CE was upregulated in females (p=0.034). Conclusions. Persons with overweight and obesity do not increase REE in response to CE, presumably reflecting lower BAT activity. Likewise, the metabolic response to cold is diminished in participants with elevated BMI.

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“…Fatty acid uptake was also higher in cold-stimulated BAT in lean rather than in obese participants [ 175 ]. Another report indicated that cold-induced thermogenesis, assessed by an increase in resting energy expenditure, was impaired in individuals who were overweight and obese [ 176 ]. Consistent with these observations, norepinephrine treatment did not promote beige differentiation of preadipocytes isolated from overweight adult patients [ 177 ].…”

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“…In their research article, Mengel et al [43] investigated the variation in fasting glucose, plasma insulin, leptin, adiponectin, non-esterified fatty acids, triglycerides, C-reactive protein, and free triiodothyronine after a device-mediated 120 minutes cooling session at a non-shivering temperature. They found that fasting glucose levels decreased and triglycerides and adiponectin levels significantly increased during cold exposure.…”

miR-375 is cold exposure sensitive and drives thermogenesis in visceral adipose tissue derived stem cells

“…Recently, our group reported that adult humans show high variability in resting energy expenditure (REE) after a standardized mild cold exposure 31 . An additional study revealed an increase in the expression of the adipose browning marker gene CIDEA in SAT from female but not in male participants 32 .…”