Intermittent Cold Exposure and Brown Adipose Tissue Hyperplasia
This clinical trial explores how repeated short-term cold exposure impacts the molecular and physiological function of brown adipose tissue (BAT), a thermogenic organ associated with improved cardiometabolic health. While intermittent cold exposure has been shown to increase BAT activity and mass, as measured by fluoro
| Condition(s) | Brown Adipose Tissue, Cold Exposure, 18F-FDG PET/CT |
|---|---|
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | NA |
| Study type | Interventional |
| Summary | This clinical trial explores how repeated short-term cold exposure impacts the molecular and physiological function of brown adipose tissue (BAT), a thermogenic organ associated with improved cardiometabolic health. While intermittent cold exposure has been shown to increase BAT activity and mass, as measured by fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scans, the molecular adaptations within BAT and other thermogenic tissues including skeletal muscle and white adipose tissue (WAT) remain poorly understood. Healthy adults aged 18 to 40 years (6 males and 6 females) will participate in a 10-day cold acclimation protocol (2 hours per day using water-perfused cooling blankets). The primary objective is to determine how cold exposure alter |
| Who can participate | Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 18-40 years * Body mass index 18.5-25 kg/m2 * Weight change of less than 5% in the past 6 months * No acute or chronic medical conditions * On no regular medications (other than contraceptives in female participants) * No claustrophobia * Alcohol intake ≤14 units/ week * Screening blood tests within acceptable limits (of no clinical significance) * Not currently pregnant, lactating or breastfeeding (female participants only) * Ability to provide informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Not meeting inclusion criteria * Contra-indication to PET/CT scan * Allergy to local anaesthetic |
| Ages | 18 Years to 40 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Accepts healthy volunteers | Yes |
| Lead sponsor | University of Edinburgh |
| Locations | Edinburgh, United Kingdom |
| Start date | 2025-05-01 |
| NCT ID | NCT07048405 |
| Official listing | https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07048405 |