Research Article Details
Article ID: | A01662 |
PMID: | 34663576 |
Source: | Diabetes |
Title: | Active Brown Adipose Tissue is Associated With a Healthier Metabolic Phenotype in Obesity. |
Abstract: | Obesity is associated with increasing cardiometabolic morbidity and mortality worldwide. Not everyone with obesity, however, develops metabolic complications. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) has been suggested as a promoter of leanness and metabolic health. To date, little is known about the prevalence and metabolic function of BAT in subjects with severe obesity, a population at high cardiometabolic risk. In this cross-sectional study, we included 40 individuals with WHO class II-III obesity (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2). Employing a 150-minute personalized cooling protocol and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography, cold-activated BAT was detectable in 14 (35%) of the participants. Cold-induced thermogenesis was significantly higher in participants with detectable BAT compared to those without. Notably, individuals with obesity and active BAT had 28.8% lower visceral fat mass despite slightly higher total fat mass compared to those without detectable BAT 18F-FDG uptake. This was accompanied by lower insulin resistance and systemic inflammation and improved NAFLD parameters, all adjusted for age, sex, and percent body fat. Contrary to previous assumptions, we show here that a significant fraction of individuals with severe obesity has active BAT. We found that decreased BAT 18F-FDG uptake was not associated with adiposity per se but with higher visceral fat mass. In summary, active BAT is linked to a healthier metabolic phenotype in obesity. |
DOI: | 10.2337/db21-0475 |

Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
S01 | Improve insulin resistance | insulin sensitizer; insulin resistance; glucose tolerance | Biguanide: increases 5-AMP activated protein kinase signaling; SGLT-2 inhibitor; Thiazalidinedione: selective PPAR-γ agonists; GLP-1 agonist | Metformin; Empagliflozin; Canagliflozin; Rosiglitazone; Pioglitazone; Liraglutide | Details |
Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I05 | 9352 | Type 2 diabetes mellitus | A diabetes that is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. A diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2 | disease of metabolism/inherited metabolic disorder/ carbohydrate metabolic disorder/glucose metabolism disease/diabetes/ diabetes mellitus | Details |
I14 | 9970 | Obesity | An overnutrition that is characterized by excess body fat, traditionally defined as an elevated ratio of weight to height (specifically 30 kilograms per meter squared), has_material_basis_in a multifactorial etiology related to excess nutrition intake, decreased caloric utilization, and genetic susceptibility, and possibly medications and certain disorders of metabolism, endocrine function, and mental illness. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity | disease of metabolism/acquired metabolic disease/ nutrition disease/overnutrition | Details |