The Effect of Cold Exposure on Energy Expenditure

Cold-induced Thermogenesis in Adults From Siberia and Western Europe

Cold-induced thermogenesis, or the increase in energy expenditure upon cold exposure, indicates metabolic stress, as such, cold-induced thermogenesis may signal an appropriate stimulus to improve metabolic health. Cold acclimation may alter cold-induced thermogenesis due to changes in (non)shivering thermogenesis and blood flow. The main aim of this research is to compare the energy expenditure responses, during a standardised cold stress (~ 9°C air temperature, maximum 1 hour), of Siberian adults with Western European adults. The subjects will be individually matched for age, sex, body mass and height. It was hypothesised that cold-induced thermogenesis will be reduced in the Siberian population.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Cold Exposure
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Cold exposure

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 26
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Netherlands
  • Maastricht, Netherlands, 6229 ER
    • Maastricht University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Signed informed consent
• Western European origin or of Siberian origin
• BMI between 18.5 and 35 kg/m2
• Generally healthy (determined by dependent physician)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Smoking
• Active, uncontrolled cardiovascular disease or cancer
• Raynaud's disease
• Participation in another biomedical study within 1 month before the first study
• Cold-acclimated (Western European group), such as takes daily extended cold baths, works in a refrigerated environment, or regular cold-water swimming within 1 month of starting the study
• Medication use known to hamper subject's safety during study procedures
• Abuse of alcohol or drugs

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: Cold exposure applied to Western European individuals; Participants rested under thermoneutral conditions for 30 min, which was then followed by exposure to ~ 9°C air temperature for a maximum of 1 hour. Same duration as matched Siberian individuals.	Other: Cold exposure; Cold air exposure (~ 9°C, maximum 1 hour duration)
Other: Cold exposure applied to Siberian individuals; Participants rested under thermoneutral conditions for 30 min, which was then followed by exposure to ~ 9°C air temperature for a maximum of 1 hour. Same duration as matched European individuals.	Other: Cold exposure; Cold air exposure (~ 9°C, maximum 1 hour duration)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Cold-induced thermogenesis	Energy expenditure with indirect calorimetry	30 min before and during the cold exposure (maximum 1 hour)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Skin temperature	Skin temperature determined with iButtons, measured in °C	30 min before and during the cold exposure (maximum 1 hour)
Core temperature	Core temperature determined with a gastrointestinal pill, measured in °C	30 min before and during the cold exposure (maximum 1 hour)
Shivering activity	Electromyography will be used to measure the electrical activity of 3 skeletal muscles	30 min before and during the cold exposure (maximum 1 hour)
Substrate oxidation	Carbohydrate and fat oxidation will be determined with indirect calorimetry	30 min before and during the cold exposure (maximum 1 hour)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Maastricht University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: W. van Marken Lichtenbelt, PhD, Maastricht University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 17, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 2, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): May 2, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 21, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 25, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): November 4, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 28, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 26, 2022
• Last Verified: July 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Energy expenditure; Cold exposure
• Other Study ID Numbers: WEU

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No