Infrared Thermography for Estimating Supraclavicular Skin Temperature and BAT Activity in Humans: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Objective Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a thermogenic tissue with potential as a therapeutic target in the treatment of obesity and related metabolic disorders. The most used technique for quantifying human BAT activity is the measurement of 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose uptake via a positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan following exposure to cold. However, several studies have indicated the measurement of the supraclavicular skin temperature (SST) by infrared thermography (IRT) to be a less invasive alternative. This work reviews the state of the art of this latter method as a means of determining BAT activity in humans. Methods The data sources for this review were PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCOhost (SPORTdiscus), and eligible studies were those conducted in humans. Results In most studies in which participants were first cooled, an increase in IRT‐measured SST was noted. However, only 5 of 24 such studies also involved a nuclear technique that confirmed increased activity in BAT, and only 2 took into account the thickness of the fat layer when measuring SST by IRT. Conclusions More work is needed to understand the involvement of tissues other than BAT in determining IRT‐measured SST; at present, IRT cannot determine whether any increase in SST is due to increased BAT activity.

Altered brown fat thermoregulation and enhanced cold-induced thermogenesis in young, healthy, winter-swimming men

“…To date, heterogeneity in human cooling study design complicates comparability between studies. 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 In the current study, we took advantage of the cheap and non-invasive nature of the sampling to perform continuous measurements of heat production during cooling or at a thermal comfort state. An important distinction of IRT compared with the gold standard methods, FDG-PET/CT or PET/MRI, 36 is that it measures the endpoint of BAT activity (i.e., heat) rather than glucose tracer uptake, which is quantified with FDG-PET/CT or PET/MRI scans.…”

Adipose tissue growth and development: the modulating role of ambient temperature

“…The interpretation of some studies is limited due in part to inconsistencies in both taking and processing images. Moreover, a recent review of such studies is confounded due to a clear misconception as to what constitutes a 'clinical trial' for which none have yet been conducted using thermal imaging as an outcome measure (Jimenez-Pavon et al 2019). To date, the majority of published studies and those included in the previous review have aimed to develop the technology and examine specific interventions in healthy subjects (Law et al 2018a).…”

Obezitede Güncel Yaklaşımlar: Kahverengi Yağ Dokusu Transplantasyonu ve Vagal Sinir Blokajı

“…Fare modelleri ile yapılmış çalışmalarda, kahverengi yağ dokusu transplantasyonunun metabolik sağlık üzerinde yararlı etkilere sahip olduğu gösterilmiştir (13,14).…”