Altered brown fat thermoregulation and enhanced cold-induced thermogenesis in young, healthy, winter-swimming men
Susanna Søberg, Johan Löfgren, Frederik E Philipsen, Michal Jensen, Adam E Hansen, Esben Ahrens, Kristin B Nystrup, Rune D Nielsen, Christine Sølling, Anne-Sophie Wedell-Neergaard, Marianne Berntsen, Annika Loft, Andreas Kjær, Zachary Gerhart-Hines, Helle H Johannesen, Bente K Pedersen, Kristian Karstoft, Camilla Scheele, Susanna Søberg, Johan Löfgren, Frederik E Philipsen, Michal Jensen, Adam E Hansen, Esben Ahrens, Kristin B Nystrup, Rune D Nielsen, Christine Sølling, Anne-Sophie Wedell-Neergaard, Marianne Berntsen, Annika Loft, Andreas Kjær, Zachary Gerhart-Hines, Helle H Johannesen, Bente K Pedersen, Kristian Karstoft, Camilla Scheele
Abstract
The Scandinavian winter-swimming culture combines brief dips in cold water with hot sauna sessions, with conceivable effects on body temperature. We study thermogenic brown adipose tissue (BAT) in experienced winter-swimming men performing this activity 2-3 times per week. Our data suggest a lower thermal comfort state in the winter swimmers compared with controls, with a lower core temperature and absence of BAT activity. In response to cold, we observe greater increases in cold-induced thermogenesis and supraclavicular skin temperature in the winter swimmers, whereas BAT glucose uptake and muscle activity increase similarly to those of the controls. All subjects demonstrate nocturnal reduction in supraclavicular skin temperature, whereas a distinct peak occurs at 4:30-5:30 a.m. in the winter swimmers. Our data leverage understanding of BAT in adult human thermoregulation, suggest both heat and cold acclimation in winter swimmers, and propose winter swimming as a potential strategy for increasing energy expenditure.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03096535.
Keywords: adipose tissue; cold acclimation; cold water immersion; core temperature; energy expenditure; heat acclimation; human brown fat; human circadian rhythm; sauna; thermal comfort.
Conflict of interest statement
C. Scheele is a consultant for Novo Nordisk A/S on human brown adipose tissue biology. Z.G.-H. works, in some capacity, for Embark Biotech ApS, a company developing therapeutics for the treatment of diabetes and obesity. All other authors declare no competing interests associated with this manuscript.
© 2021 The Authors.
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