Changes in brown adipose tissue in boys and girls during childhood and puberty

Vicente Gilsanz, Michelle L Smith, Fariba Goodarzian, Mimi Kim, Tishya A L Wren, Houchun H Hu, Vicente Gilsanz, Michelle L Smith, Fariba Goodarzian, Mimi Kim, Tishya A L Wren, Houchun H Hu

Abstract

Objective: To characterize the changes in brown adipose tissue (BAT) occurring during puberty in boys and girls.

Study design: We examined the prevalence and the volume of BAT at different stages of sexual development in 73 pediatric patients who underwent positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) studies.

Results: Of the 73 patients studied, 43 (59%) had BAT depicted on PET/CT. The presence of BAT was detected significantly less frequently on PET/CT in prepubertal subjects (Tanner stage 1) than in pubertal subjects (Tanner stages 2-5) (15% vs 75%). BAT volume also increased during puberty, with a significantly greater magnitude of the increase in the final 2 stages of puberty (Tanner stages 4 and 5) than in earlier stages (Tanner stages 1-3) (boys: 499 ± 246 vs 50 ± 36, P < .0001; girls: 286 ± 139 vs 36 ± 29, P = .024). Changes in BAT volume were also significantly greater in boys than in girls (P = .004) and were closely related to muscle volume (r = 0.52, P < .01 for boys; r = 0.64, P < .01 for girls).

Conclusion: The presence and volume of BAT increase rapidly during puberty. Metabolic and hormonal events related to the achievement of sexual maturity are likely responsible for this increase.

Copyright © 2012 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Bar graphs showing the percentage of pre-pubertal (Tanner 1) and pubertal (Tanner 2-5) male and female subjects depicting BAT. There is a statistical significant difference in the percentage of subjects depicting BAT between pre-pubertal (0%) and pubertal (67%) females (*P=0.005) and between pre-pubertal (20%) and pubertal (87%) males (**P

Figure 2

A, Relations between the volume…

Figure 2

A, Relations between the volume of BAT and age in 43 male and…
Figure 2
A, Relations between the volume of BAT and age in 43 male and female subjects with visualized BAT. The linear coefficients were r=0.77 and 0.72 for males and females, respectively; both P’s<0.001. B, Relations between the volume of BAT and Tanner stage in 43 male and female subjects with visualized BAT. The linear coefficients were r=0.70 and 0.54 for males and females, respectively; both P’s ≤0.01

Figure 2

A, Relations between the volume…

Figure 2

A, Relations between the volume of BAT and age in 43 male and…
Figure 2
A, Relations between the volume of BAT and age in 43 male and female subjects with visualized BAT. The linear coefficients were r=0.77 and 0.72 for males and females, respectively; both P’s<0.001. B, Relations between the volume of BAT and Tanner stage in 43 male and female subjects with visualized BAT. The linear coefficients were r=0.70 and 0.54 for males and females, respectively; both P’s ≤0.01

Figure 3

Relations between the volume of…

Figure 3

Relations between the volume of BAT and the volume of trunk muscle in…

Figure 3
Relations between the volume of BAT and the volume of trunk muscle in 43 male and female subjects with visualized BAT. The linear coefficients were r=0.52 and 0.64 for males and females, respectively; both P’s
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Figure 2
Figure 2
A, Relations between the volume of BAT and age in 43 male and female subjects with visualized BAT. The linear coefficients were r=0.77 and 0.72 for males and females, respectively; both P’s<0.001. B, Relations between the volume of BAT and Tanner stage in 43 male and female subjects with visualized BAT. The linear coefficients were r=0.70 and 0.54 for males and females, respectively; both P’s ≤0.01
Figure 2
Figure 2
A, Relations between the volume of BAT and age in 43 male and female subjects with visualized BAT. The linear coefficients were r=0.77 and 0.72 for males and females, respectively; both P’s<0.001. B, Relations between the volume of BAT and Tanner stage in 43 male and female subjects with visualized BAT. The linear coefficients were r=0.70 and 0.54 for males and females, respectively; both P’s ≤0.01
Figure 3
Figure 3
Relations between the volume of BAT and the volume of trunk muscle in 43 male and female subjects with visualized BAT. The linear coefficients were r=0.52 and 0.64 for males and females, respectively; both P’s

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