Background: We recently demonstrated that thrifty subjects, characterized by a greater decrease in 24 h energy expenditure (24hEE) during short-term fasting, have less capacity for cold-induced thermogenesis (CIT) during 24 h of mild cold exposure. Objective: As cold-induced brown adipose tissue activation (CIBA) is a determinant of CIT, we sought to investigate whether thrifty individuals also have reduced CIBA. Methods: Twenty-four healthy subjects (age: 29.8 ± 9.5y, body fat: 27.3 ± 12.4%, 63% male) were admitted to our clinical research unit and underwent two 24hEE assessments in a whole-room indirect calorimeter during energy balance and fasting conditions at thermoneutrality to quantify their degree of thriftiness. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography scans were performed after exposure to 16 °C for 2 h to quantify peak CIBA. Results: A greater decrease in 24hEE during fasting was associated with lower peak CIBA (r = 0.50, p = 0.01), such that a 100 kcal/day greater reduction in 24hEE related to an average 3.2 g/mL lower peak CIBA. Conclusion: Our results indicate that reduced CIBA is a metabolic trait of the thrifty phenotype which might explain reduced CIT capacity and greater predisposition towards weight gain in individuals with a thrifty metabolism.

Reduced brown adipose tissue activity during cold exposure is a metabolic feature of the human thrifty phenotype

Basolo, Alessio;Piaggi, Paolo
Ultimo
2021-01-01

Abstract

Background: We recently demonstrated that thrifty subjects, characterized by a greater decrease in 24 h energy expenditure (24hEE) during short-term fasting, have less capacity for cold-induced thermogenesis (CIT) during 24 h of mild cold exposure. Objective: As cold-induced brown adipose tissue activation (CIBA) is a determinant of CIT, we sought to investigate whether thrifty individuals also have reduced CIBA. Methods: Twenty-four healthy subjects (age: 29.8 ± 9.5y, body fat: 27.3 ± 12.4%, 63% male) were admitted to our clinical research unit and underwent two 24hEE assessments in a whole-room indirect calorimeter during energy balance and fasting conditions at thermoneutrality to quantify their degree of thriftiness. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography scans were performed after exposure to 16 °C for 2 h to quantify peak CIBA. Results: A greater decrease in 24hEE during fasting was associated with lower peak CIBA (r = 0.50, p = 0.01), such that a 100 kcal/day greater reduction in 24hEE related to an average 3.2 g/mL lower peak CIBA. Conclusion: Our results indicate that reduced CIBA is a metabolic trait of the thrifty phenotype which might explain reduced CIT capacity and greater predisposition towards weight gain in individuals with a thrifty metabolism.
2021
Hollstein, Tim; Vinales, Karyne; Chen, Kong Y; Cypess, Aaron M; Basolo, Alessio; Schlögl, Mathias; Krakoff, Jonathan; Piaggi, Paolo
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11568/1076372
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