Effects of cold exposure on energy expenditure by brown adipose tissue in humans - Brown adipose tissue and cold exposure

ineteen adult males subjects with low activities of brown adipose tissue were randomly assigned to two groups: one (n=9) was exposed to cold at 15-17 C for 2 h every day, while the other (n=10) maintained their usual daily life without cold exposure. After 6 wk under exposure to cold, cold-induced thermogenesis and BAT activity assessed by FDG-PET/CT increased compared with those at 0 wk and also with those in the control group without exposure. During the 6-wk period, body fat mass decreased more in the cold-exposed group than the control group. Moreover, the change in body fat mass negatively correlated with those in the BAT activity and cold-induced thermogenesis. These findings suggest that chronic cold exposure recruits brown adipose tissue, thereby contributing to the reduction of body fat in humans.