NCT06078345

Brown Adipose Tissue as Nutrient Buffer Through Diet Induced Thermogenesis

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (actual)
• Sponsor: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 40 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

To test the hypothesis that active BAT improves metabolic health by buffering postprandial metabolites plasma metabolites and energy expenditure will be compared in volunteers with and without active BAT. Both groups will receive test meals with protein, fat and carbohydrates separately, so that the individual impacts of these macronutrients on diet induced thermogenesis and the buffering function of BAT can be derived. BAT biopsies will be taken before and after the test meals for molecular analysis.

Detailed description

In this prospective interventional study healthy individuals will be screened for presence of active BAT: Maximal BAT activity will be achieved by a mild cold stimulus over 2 hous and quantified by 18F-FDG-PET/CT 30 min after injection of 75 MBq of 18F-FDG. Individuals with FDG-PET positive BAT will be included as BAT-positive subjects (n=15) and individuals with absence of FDG-positive BAT will be included as BAT-negative subjects (n=15) and then take part in three study visits in random order. During the study visits participants will consume a standardized isocaloric liquid meal consisting of A) glucose (OGTT) B) fat and C) protein. Energy expenditure will be measured by indirect calorimetry before as well as hourly after the meal for 5 hours. Blood samples will be taken before and at 30 minute intervals after the meal for 5 hours for analysis of blood glucose, triglycerides, FAAs, representative amino acids, insulin and noradrenaline. Subjects will undergo ultrasound-guided biopsy of the supraclavicular fat depot in the fasting state and after one of the test meals so that biopsies from 5 individuals in each group after each test meal will be obtained.

Conditions

• Brown Adipose Tissue
• Metabolic Disease

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Carbohydrate	400 Kcal glucose (100g oGTT)
OTHER	Fat	400 Kcal glucose rapeseed oil.
OTHER	Protein	400 Kcal Moltein PURE (111g)

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-10-12
• Primary completion: 2025-08-15
• Completion: 2025-08-15
• First posted: 2023-10-11
• Last updated: 2025-11-25

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Switzerland