Investigating how brown fat affects metabolism through diet
Official title: Brown Adipose Tissue as Nutrient Buffer Through Diet Induced Thermogenesis
Run by University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland · NCT06078345 · 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 active brown fat in healthy people affects metabolism after eating different types of meals.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 40 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | radiation |
| Locations | 1 site (Basel) |
| Trial ID | NCT06078345 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are healthy adults with a BMI between 18.5 and 28 kg/m2 who can provide informed consent.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with significant comorbidities, recent weight changes, or those on certain 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 study aims to explore the role of active brown adipose tissue (BAT) in improving metabolic health by buffering postprandial metabolites. Healthy volunteers will be screened for active BAT using 18F-FDG-PET/CT imaging and will be divided into BAT-positive and BAT-negative groups. Participants will consume standardized meals containing carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, while their energy expenditure and blood metabolite levels will be monitored. Additionally, biopsies of the supraclavicular fat depot will be taken to analyze molecular changes before and after meal consumption.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to new dietary strategies for improving metabolic health in individuals with metabolic diseases.
How similar studies have gone: While the role of brown adipose tissue in metabolism is being explored, this specific approach of analyzing the effects of different macronutrients on BAT is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * BMI 18.5 to 28 kg/m2 * Able to give informed consent as documented by signature Exclusion Criteria: * Concomitant medication other than prescription free analgesics (paracetamol and NSAID) and oral contraceptives * Other clinically significant concomitant disease states (e.g., renal failure, hepatic dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus) * Hyper- or hypothyroidism * Smoker / habitual tobacco use * Weight change of \>5% within 3 months prior to inclusion * Hypersensitivity to cold (e.g. Raynaud syndrome) * Known or suspected non-compliance, drug or alcohol abuse * Inability to follow the procedures of the study, e.g. due to language problems, psychological disorders, dementia, etc. of the participant * Enrolment of the investigator, his/her family members, employees and other dependent persons * Enrolment into another study using ionizing radiation within the previous 12 months * Enrolment into another study including a pharmacological or nutritional intervention * Pregnancy or lactation * Lab parameters * Serum-Creatinine: above 1.5x upper limit of normal (ULN) * Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c): above 6.0% * Random plasma glucose \>11 mM
Where it's running
-
University Hospital Basel, Dept. of Endocrinology
Basel, Switzerland Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Matthias J Betz, MD — University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
- Study coordinator: Matthias J Betz, MD
- Email: matthias.betz@usb.ch
- Phone: 0041 61 556 56 54
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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.