Short cold sessions to grow and activate brown fat
Investigating the Cellular Heterogeneity of Human Brown Adipose Tissue and Its (Patho)Physiological Regulation
NA · University of Edinburgh · NCT07048405
This study will test whether daily two-hour cold sessions in healthy adults (ages 18–40) change the activity and gene patterns of brown fat, white fat, and muscle.
Quick facts
| Phase | NA |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 12 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 40 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Edinburgh (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Edinburgh) |
| Trial ID | NCT07048405 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Healthy adults will undergo baseline warm and cold measurements including energy expenditure, skin and core temperature, and a dynamic whole-body 18F-FDG PET/CT scan. Tissue biopsies (supraclavicular brown adipose tissue, vastus lateralis muscle, and periumbilical subcutaneous white adipose tissue) will be taken before and after a 10-day cold-acclimation protocol consisting of 2 hours per day using water-perfused cooling blankets. The trial will compare PET/CT imaging, physiological measures, and molecular analyses to identify cellular heterogeneity and gene-expression changes in thermogenic tissues. Results will map how repeated short cold exposure remodels tissue composition and transcriptional programs.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal participants are healthy adults aged 18–40 with BMI 18.5–25 kg/m2, stable weight, no regular medications, no major medical conditions, and able to undergo PET/CT scans and tissue biopsies.
Not a fit: People with chronic illnesses, outside the age or BMI ranges, who are pregnant or breastfeeding, on regular medications, claustrophobic, or unable to tolerate biopsies or PET/CT scans are unlikely to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could identify ways to boost brown fat activity and mass that may improve metabolism and lower cardiometabolic risk.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have shown intermittent cold increases brown fat activity and mass on 18F-FDG PET/CT, but the detailed cellular and molecular adaptations are largely untested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 18-40 years * Body mass index 18.5-25 kg/m2 * Weight change of less than 5% in the past 6 months * No acute or chronic medical conditions * On no regular medications (other than contraceptives in female participants) * No claustrophobia * Alcohol intake ≤14 units/ week * Screening blood tests within acceptable limits (of no clinical significance) * Not currently pregnant, lactating or breastfeeding (female participants only) * Ability to provide informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Not meeting inclusion criteria * Contra-indication to PET/CT scan * Allergy to local anaesthetic
Where this trial is running
Edinburgh
- Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh — Edinburgh, United Kingdom (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: María Paula Huertas Caycedo
- Email: m.p.huertas-caycedo@sms.ed.ac.uk
- Phone: 01312429196
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Brown Adipose Tissue, Cold Exposure, 18F-FDG PET/CT