Objective
This study aimed to test the hypothesis that young adults with obesity and cold‐activated brown adipose tissue (BAT) are less likely to have metabolic dysfunction (dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and hypertension) than those without cold‐activated BAT. Previous studies have noted a potentially protective effect of BAT and higher adiponectin/leptin ratios, but they have acknowledged that the clinical implications of these findings remain uncertain.
Methods
Twenty‐one females and twenty‐three males with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) underwent a 2‐hour cooling protocol before 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose (18F‐FDG)‐positron emission tomography/x‐ray computed tomography scan to determine the prevalence, volume, and 18F‐FDG uptake of cold‐activated BAT.
Results
Cold‐activated BAT was identified in 43% of participants (11 female, 8 male); females had greater 18F‐FDG uptake. Those with cold‐activated BAT had a lesser degree of metabolic dysfunction. Cold‐activated BAT volume correlated with triglycerides (inversely) and adiponectin (concordantly). Body‐mass‐adjusted cold‐activated BAT activity correlated with high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (concordantly). Males with cold‐activated BAT had lower leptin and higher adiponectin/leptin ratio.
Conclusions
A high prevalence of cold‐activated BAT was found in the study participants. BAT could be important in decreasing metabolic dysfunction among young adults with obesity, making it a potential target for treating metabolically unhealthy obesity.