Investigating how different foods affect brown fat and metabolism

Understanding the Role of Food Intake and Endocrine Factors in Brown Adipose Tissue Function

This study is testing how different types of foods affect brown fat and metabolism in people of different weights to see if it can help us understand obesity and metabolic health better.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 45 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Turku University Hospital (Government)
• Locations: 1 site (Turku)
• Trial ID: NCT06285461 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study explores the effects of high and low hedonic reward foods on brown adipose tissue (BAT) and the gut-BAT-brain axis in individuals with varying body weights. It involves a crossover design where participants will consume two types of meals, followed by PET/CT scans to assess BAT function and brain activity. The study aims to understand how these meals influence energy homeostasis and may differ between lean and overweight/obese individuals. The findings could provide insights into dietary impacts on obesity and metabolic health.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are males and females aged 18 to 45, with either a BMI under 25 for lean individuals or a BMI over 27.5 with a larger waist circumference for those with overweight or obesity.

Not a fit: Patients with conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, or those who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to better dietary recommendations for managing obesity and improving metabolic health.

How similar studies have performed: While the specific approach of this study may be novel, previous research has indicated that dietary factors can significantly influence metabolic processes and brown fat activity.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* • Males and females

  * Between 18 and 45 years old.
  * For the lean group: BMI\<25.0 kg/m2
  * For the group with overweight/obesity: BMI\>27.5 kg/m2 and a waist circumference of over 94 cm (men) or 80 cm (women).

Exclusion Criteria:

* • Inability to have PET/CT (claustrophobia, weight \> 150 kg);

  * Pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions (postpartum/lactation during the last 12 months, or planning to become pregnant soon);
  * Major alterations in the menstrual cycle (e.g., amenorrhea);
  * Use of nicotine-based products;
  * Hypo- or hyper- thyroidism (medical history, TSH, T3 or T4 levels out of the normal range);
  * Diabetes mellitus (fasting Hb1Ac \>6.5% or fasting glycaemia\>125 mg/dL) or abnormal oral glucose tolerance test (2h OGTT \> 7.8 mmol/L);
  * Hypertension (blood pressure \> 160/100 mmHg) or abnormal cardiovascular status (arrhythmia and/or long QTc in ECG, abnormal cardiac murmur, previous history of cardiovascular disease);
  * Abnormal coagulopathy (e.g., clotting abnormality);
  * Malignancies, immunological, autoimmune and primary/secondary immunodeficiency disorders (including or not any active treatment).
  * Virus or bacterial infection (both asymptomatic and symptomatic picture) within the 30 days prior to the study start;
  * Episode of fever or major surgery, burns and traumas within the month prior to the study start
  * Chronic infections requiring chronic antibiotic or anti-viral treatment
  * Whole blood donation in the last 3 months (\>400 mL of blood) or plans for blood donation during the entire protocol period
  * Weight change (intentional or not) over the last 6-months \> than 5% of body weight, or plan to lose weight during the study,
  * Use of any medication that, in the opinion of local clinician/researcher, would negatively affect or mitigate full participation and completion, or could influence the study results. This especially applies to the use of β or α adrenergic receptors agonists/antagonists (e.g., β-blockers). In addition, participants in use of medication for glucose control or weight loss such as GLP-1 analogs will not be included.

Where this trial is running

Turku

• Turku PET Centre — Turku, Finland (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Kirsi A Virtanen, Professor — University of Turku
• Study coordinator: Kirsi A Virtanen, Professor

Conditions Obesity; Brown adipose tissue; Gut peptides; Meal-induced thermogenesis; Gut-BAT-brain axis