Investigating brown fat activity in cold-exposed Inuit populations
Official title: Metabolic Effects of Short-term Cold Exposure Among Greenlanders and Non-Greenlanders
Run by Aalborg University Hospital · NCT05884177 · Data updated 2026-05-14
This study is no longer in our active list. It may have stopped recruiting or finished. The details below are as of 2026-05-14 and are kept for reference. Check ClinicalTrials.gov for its current status, or see similar studies below.
This study is testing how cold exposure affects brown fat activity in people from Denmark and Greenland to see if it can help with weight loss and better health.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 50 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 25 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Aalborg University Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Aalborg) |
| Trial ID | NCT05884177 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are healthy individuals of Danish and Greenlandic descent who can provide informed consent.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with conditions such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or those on specific medications may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This observational study aims to explore the activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) in individuals of Danish and Greenlandic origin through short-term cold exposure. By utilizing FDG-PET/CT scans, the study will visualize BAT activity and assess its relationship with genetic and physiological characteristics. The research focuses on understanding how cold exposure influences BAT and its potential role in combating obesity and improving metabolic health. Participants will be monitored before and after exposure to cold to gather data on BAT function and differentiation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide insights into new strategies for obesity management and metabolic health improvement.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been studies on BAT, this approach focusing on cold exposure in Inuit populations is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Ability to give informed consent * Ability to follow written and verbal instructions Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnancy and breastfeeding * Alpha- or beta-adrenergic affecting medication. * Thyroid dysfunction * Liver or kidney disease * Treatment for diabetes * MODY and TBC1D4 * Treatment of obesity * Cardiovascular disease * Cancer within 3 years * Mb Renaud * Hospitalisation for psychiatric disease * Antipsychotic medication * Drug abuse within 1-year * Alcohol abuse * Plasma glucose \> 11 mM * BMI \>35 kg/m2 * Winter swimmer
Where it's running
-
Aalborg University Hospital
Aalborg, Denmark Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Mette MM Jensen, MD
- Email: mette.malene@rn.dk
- Phone: +4597660000
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Revascularization of Calcified Coronary Arteries
This study tests whether measuring blood flow and pressure before and after ballooning or stenting of calcified coronary arteries can help predict how well the procedure will work for adults with heart disease.
-
Biomarkers in the Heat and Moisture Exchange Filter during Surgery
This study checks whether the heat and moisture exchange (HME) filter used with ventilators during surgery contains proteins and other particles from the patient’s breath.
-
Tailored treatment approaches for low anterior resection syndrome
This study will see if advanced physiological and imaging tests can identify different subtypes of LARS in people after rectal cancer surgery to help match them to better treatments.
-
Urine, perineal, and stool microbiota in children and adolescents
We will test whether the bacteria in voided urine, around the genitals, and in stool differ between children with overactive bladder or daytime wetting and healthy children of the same age and gender.
-
Step-by-step care plan to improve treatment for moderate depression in general practice
It tests whether a structured step-by-step care plan used by general practitioners works better than usual GP care or psychologist-led behavioral therapy for adults 18–65 with moderate depression.
-
Dual Energy CT to Delineate Tumors and Organs at Risk in Radiotherapy
This study tests whether dual-energy CT can delineate tumors and nearby critical tissues as well as MRI for patients needing radiotherapy.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.