A Role for Brown Adipose Tissue in Postprandial Thermogenesis?

January 13, 2016 updated by: Ms. Rowan Frew, Bayside Health

Brown adipose (fat) tissue (BAT) is a type of fat tissue found in certain small rodents and human babies that is capable of extremely high rates of energy burning. We now know that in adult humans it is present and also able to burn energy.

In addition to increased energy expenditure during cold exposure, energy burning is also increased after consuming a meal. Animal studies have shown that part of this additional energy consumption is contributed by BAT. In the present study we will aim to examine whether BAT activity is increased after a meal.

Study Overview

Status

Terminated

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The purpose of this project is to measure whether BAT activity (during which BAT increases energy burning) increases in response to ingestion of a meal.

BAT is one of two types of fat, (the other being white fat), which is found in humans and other mammals. In this study we aim to further our understanding of how BAT works in humans. Studies in animals show that in addition to cold exposure, BAT is also activated by ingestion of a meal, and to different amounts depending on the meal composition, and more importantly, total energy content. However we have only a very limited understanding of BAT function in response to meals in humans. Since BAT function is defective in obesity, and its activity and function are impacted by diet, here we will find out whether a single high energy meal composed entirely of lipid (fat) can increase BAT activity. In future these findings and those of subsequent studies may have important implications for the management of obesity and related diseases.

A total of 20 people will participate in this project. Participation will involve a total of 3 visits, including a screening visit, 2 experimental visits consumption of the treatment meal on one visit, and the placebo (dummy) on the other in a randomised order.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

4

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Australia
    • Victoria
      • Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3004
        • Alfred Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

19 years to 35 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Males aged 19 - 35 years
  • Unmedicated for the previous 2 months
  • No major illness
  • BMI 17-40 kg/m2

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Unable to give informed consent
  • Smokers
  • Participant in research projects involving ionising radiation within the past 5 years, excluding dual energy x-ray absorptiometry scans conducted in prior studies
  • Claustrophobia
  • Fasting plasma glucose > 6.0 mmol/L

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Active
Meal
Dietary supplement: Meal
Meal
Placebo Comparator: Control
Water
Dietary supplement: Meal
Meal

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
BAT activity
Time Frame: 2 years
Analysis of PET/CT scans
2 years

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Bayside Health

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Bronwyn Kingwell, Professor, Baker IDI Heart & Diabetes Institute

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

March 1, 2014

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2015

Study Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 23, 2013

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 28, 2013

First Posted (Estimate)

November 3, 2013

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

January 15, 2016

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 13, 2016

Last Verified

January 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 345-13

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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