Relation of diet-induced thermogenesis to brown adipose tissue activity in healthy men

Human brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a thermogenic tissue activated by the sympathetic nervous system in response to cold exposure. It contributes to energy expenditure (EE) and takes up glucose and lipids from the circulation. Studies in rodents suggest that BAT contributes to the transient rise in EE after food intake, so-called diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT). We investigated the relationship between human BAT activity and DIT in response to glucose intake in 17 healthy volunteers. We assessed DIT, cold induced thermogenesis (CIT), and maximum BAT activity at three separate study visits within 2 wk. DIT was measured by indirect calorimetry during an oral glucose tolerance test. CIT was assessed as the difference in EE after cold exposure of 2-h duration as compared with warm conditions. Maximal activity of BAT was assessed by 18-F-fluoro-deoxyglucose (F-18-FDG) F-18-FDG-PET/MRI after cold exposure and concomitant pharmacological stimulation with mirabegron. Seventeen healthy men (mean age = 23.4 yr, mean body mass index = 23.2 kg/m(2)) participated in the study. EE increased from 1,908 (+/- 181) kcal/24 h to 2,128 (+/- 277) kcal/24 h (P < 0.0001, +11.5%) after mild cold exposure. An oral glucose load increased EE from 1,911 (+/- 165) kcal/24 h to 2,096 (+/- 167) kcal/24 h at 60 min (P < 0.0001, +9.7%). The increase in EE in response to cold was significantly associated with BAT activity (R-2 = 0.43, P = 0.004). However, DIT was not associated with BAT activity (R-2 = 0.015, P = 0.64). DIT after an oral glucose load was not associated with stimulated F-18-FDG uptake into BAT, suggesting that DIT is independent from BAT activity in humans (Clinicaltrials.gov Registration No. NCT03189511). NEW & NOTEWORTHY Cold-induced thermogenesis (CIT) was related to BAT activity as determined by FDG-PET/MRI after stimulation of BAT. Diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT) was not related to stimulated BAT activity. Supraclavicular skin temperature was related to CIT but not to DIT. DIT in humans is probably not a function of BAT.

Automated summary

Cold-induced thermogenesis (CIT) is related to BAT activity, while diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT) is not associated with BAT activity. The increase in EE after glucose intake is not linked to stimulated BAT activity. Therefore, in humans, DIT may not be a function of BAT.