Carsten T Herz1, Oana C Kulterer2, Marlene Prager3, Rodrig Marculescu4, Felix B Langer5, Gerhard Prager5, Alexandra Kautzky-Willer3, Alexander R Haug2, Florian W Kiefer6. 1. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. 2. Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. 3. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. 4. Division of Medical-Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. 5. Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. 6. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: florian.kiefer@meduniwien.ac.at.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is suggested to exhibit a sexual dimorphism and thus contributes to the observed sex differences in cardiometabolic risk observed between women and men. Clinical data supporting this hypothesis are however scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between BAT activity and sex using positron emission tomography (PET) - the current gold-standard for BAT quantification. METHODS: In this study, we included 95 subjects with a wide BMI range (20-55 kg/m2) aged from 18 to 50 years. Avoiding shivering, participants were cooled with a water-perfused vest to achieve adequate BAT activation. BAT activity was determined by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT). Cold-induced thermogenesis (CIT) was quantified by indirect calorimetry. RESULTS: BAT was present in 44.6% of pre-menopausal women and in 35.9% of men (p = 0.394). CIT was significantly higher in women (p = 0.024). Estradiol levels were positively associated with CIT independent of age, sex, body fat and other sex hormones (b = 0.360, p = 0.016). In women, CIT decreased during the menstrual cycle, with lower levels in the luteal phase similar to median concentrations in men. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of cold-activated BAT is slightly but non-significantly higher in pre-menopausal women than men. CIT is increased in females and independently associated with estradiol, suggesting that sex hormones may play a role in different thermogenic responses between men and women.
INTRODUCTION: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is suggested to exhibit a sexual dimorphism and thus contributes to the observed sex differences in cardiometabolic risk observed between women and men. Clinical data supporting this hypothesis are however scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between BAT activity and sex using positron emission tomography (PET) - the current gold-standard for BAT quantification. METHODS: In this study, we included 95 subjects with a wide BMI range (20-55 kg/m2) aged from 18 to 50 years. Avoiding shivering, participants were cooled with a water-perfused vest to achieve adequate BAT activation. BAT activity was determined by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT). Cold-induced thermogenesis (CIT) was quantified by indirect calorimetry. RESULTS: BAT was present in 44.6% of pre-menopausal women and in 35.9% of men (p = 0.394). CIT was significantly higher in women (p = 0.024). Estradiol levels were positively associated with CIT independent of age, sex, body fat and other sex hormones (b = 0.360, p = 0.016). In women, CIT decreased during the menstrual cycle, with lower levels in the luteal phase similar to median concentrations in men. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of cold-activated BAT is slightly but non-significantly higher in pre-menopausal women than men. CIT is increased in females and independently associated with estradiol, suggesting that sex hormones may play a role in different thermogenic responses between men and women.
Authors: Daniel J Torres; Matthew W Pitts; Lucia A Seale; Ann C Hashimoto; Katlyn J An; Ashley N Hanato; Katherine W Hui; Stella Maris A Remigio; Bradley A Carlson; Dolph L Hatfield; Marla J Berry Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2021-10-12 Impact factor: 6.208
Authors: Carsten T Herz; Oana C Kulterer; Dorian Kulifaj; Fanny Gelas; Bernhard Franzke; Frederik Haupenthal; Gerhard Prager; Felix B Langer; Rodrig Marculescu; Alexander R Haug; Florian W Kiefer; Gregor Bond Journal: Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) Date: 2022-09-28 Impact factor: 6.055