An Examination of Brown Adipose Tissue and Energy Expenditure in Infants

Launched by PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER · Aug 24, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at a special type of fat in infants called brown adipose tissue, which helps the body burn energy and stay warm. Researchers want to understand how the development of this fat in babies can affect their energy use and possibly their risk of becoming overweight later in life. They will study various factors from both mothers and newborns to see how they influence this brown fat and its role in the baby’s energy balance.

To participate in this study, infants need to be between 0 and 3 weeks old and be willing to undergo some MRI scans, which are safe imaging tests. However, babies who have health issues that could make these tests unsafe or who were born too early (before 36 weeks of pregnancy) cannot join. Families can expect to visit the clinic twice within a two-week period for these procedures. This research could help us better understand how early life factors contribute to weight gain and obesity, which is important for improving health outcomes in children.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • aged 0 weeks to less than 3 weeks at visit 1
• • be willing to complete MRI procedures
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Unable to complete two clinic visits within 14 days
• • Born with health conditions that would render the procedures unsafe
• • Born earlier than 36 and 0 days gestation
• • Taken a steroid drug since birth
• • Implanted metal or electronic objects that render MRI unsafe