Active — Not RecruitingNot Applicable

Cold Acclimation as a Modulator of Brown Adipose Tissue Function in Adults With Obesity

Finland45 participantsStarted 2022-07-25

Plain-language summary

This study will investigate the effects of at least 12 weeks of weekly cold water immersions (water temperature 18ºC) on BAT perfusion in individuals with obesity. BAT oxygen uptake and tissue perfusion will be measured using 15O-O2 and 15O-H2O PET-CT, at room temperature and after cold exposure. In addition, BAT glucose uptake will be measured using 18F-FDG after 2 hours of cold exposure and BAT NEFA uptake will be analyzed using 18F-FTHA at room temperature. To understrand the metabolic effects of BAT activation in individuals with obesity and how the cold water immersions affect the BAT perfusion in humans is critical for the development of new strategies to treat obesity and its comorbidities.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 45 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * BMI\>30kg/m2 (for participants with obesity) * BMI\<25kg/m2 (for lean participants) * Waist circumference \>94 cm for men (for participants with obesity) * Waist circumference \> 80 for women (for participants with obesity) * Glucose ≥7.8 and \<11 mmol/L after OGTT (for participants with obesity) Exclusion Criteria: * Being regularly exposed to cold environments for the last 3 months (e.g. having a job as a ski monitor, fishmonger, woodcutter, etc.; or doing sports/leisure activities outdoors for prolonged periods of time, etc.) * Having gone for winter/ice swimming and bathing more than once every 2 weeks during the last 3 months. * Inability to undergo scanning (e.g., claustrophobia) * Pregnancy * Smoking (or use of nicotine based products) * Hypo/hyperthyroidism * Malignancies * Immune disorders * Viral or bacterial infections * Abnormal cardiovascular status, arrhythmia and/or long QTc in ECG, abnormal cardiac murmur, previous history of cardiovascular disease * Allergy to lidocaine or epinephrine, or other local anaesthetics * Weight change (intentional or not) over the last 6-months \> than 5% of body weight * Any other cardiovascular, pulmonary, orthopaedic, neurologic, psychiatric or other conditions that in the opinion of the local clinician/researcher, would preclude participation and successful completion of the protocol, or that would negatively impact or mitigate participation in and completion of the protocol.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Brown adipose tissue perfusion

Timeframe: After at least 12 weeks of cold acclimation

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05468151

SponsorTurku University Hospital

Sponsor typeOTHER_GOV

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2024-12-20

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