Food Intake, Endocrine Factors and Brown Fat

Launched by TURKU UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL · Feb 28, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial aims to explore how eating different types of food—those that are highly rewarding and those that are not—affects a special type of fat in our bodies called brown fat. Brown fat helps burn calories and regulate body temperature. The study will look at the relationship between what we eat, hormones produced in our gut, and how these factors interact with our brain. By understanding this connection, researchers hope to find new ways to help manage obesity.

To participate in the trial, you need to be between 18 and 45 years old and either have a body mass index (BMI) of less than 25 (lean group) or a BMI of over 27.5 with a larger waist size (over 94 cm for men and over 80 cm for women). Participants will undergo various assessments, including imaging tests, to help researchers gather information. It’s important to note that certain health conditions, such as diabetes, heart problems, or recent infections, may prevent someone from being eligible to join the study. If you are interested, make sure to talk to your doctor about your health history to see if you qualify.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • • Males and females
• • Between 18 and 45 years old.
• • For the lean group: BMI\<25.0 kg/m2
• • For the group with overweight/obesity: BMI\>27.5 kg/m2 and a waist circumference of over 94 cm (men) or 80 cm (women).
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • • Inability to have PET/CT (claustrophobia, weight \> 150 kg);
• • Pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions (postpartum/lactation during the last 12 months, or planning to become pregnant soon);
• • Major alterations in the menstrual cycle (e.g., amenorrhea);
• • Use of nicotine-based products;
• • Hypo- or hyper- thyroidism (medical history, TSH, T3 or T4 levels out of the normal range);
• • Diabetes mellitus (fasting Hb1Ac \>6.5% or fasting glycaemia\>125 mg/dL) or abnormal oral glucose tolerance test (2h OGTT \> 7.8 mmol/L);
• • Hypertension (blood pressure \> 160/100 mmHg) or abnormal cardiovascular status (arrhythmia and/or long QTc in ECG, abnormal cardiac murmur, previous history of cardiovascular disease);
• • Abnormal coagulopathy (e.g., clotting abnormality);
• • Malignancies, immunological, autoimmune and primary/secondary immunodeficiency disorders (including or not any active treatment).
• • Virus or bacterial infection (both asymptomatic and symptomatic picture) within the 30 days prior to the study start;
• • Episode of fever or major surgery, burns and traumas within the month prior to the study start
• • Chronic infections requiring chronic antibiotic or anti-viral treatment
• • Whole blood donation in the last 3 months (\>400 mL of blood) or plans for blood donation during the entire protocol period
• • Weight change (intentional or not) over the last 6-months \> than 5% of body weight, or plan to lose weight during the study,
• • Use of any medication that, in the opinion of local clinician/researcher, would negatively affect or mitigate full participation and completion, or could influence the study results. This especially applies to the use of β or α adrenergic receptors agonists/antagonists (e.g., β-blockers). In addition, participants in use of medication for glucose control or weight loss such as GLP-1 analogs will not be included.