Cited by 1,848Adipose Tissue and MetabolismAdipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic DiseasesCardiovascular Disease and Adiposity

High Incidence of Metabolically Active Brown Adipose Tissue in Healthy Adult Humans

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Saito, Masayuki, Okamatsu-Ogura, Yuko, Matsushita, Mami, Watanabe, Kumiko, Yoneshiro, Takeshi, Nio-Kobayashi, Junko, Iwanaga, Toshihiko, Miyagawa, Masao +4 more·2009·Diabetes

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The significant roles of brown adipose tissue (BAT) in the regulation of energy expenditure and adiposity are established in small rodents but have been controversial in humans. The objective is to examine the prevalence of metabolically active BAT in healthy adult humans and to clarify the effects of cold exposure and adiposity. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: In vivo 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) uptake into adipose tissue was measured in 56 healthy volunteers (31 male and 25 female subjects) aged 23–65 years by positron emission tomography (PET) combined with X-ray computed tomography (CT). RESULTS: When exposed to cold (19°C) for 2 h, 17 of 32 younger subjects (aged 23–35 years) and 2 of 24 elderly subjects (aged 38–65 years) showed a substantial FDG uptake into adipose tissue of the supraclavicular and paraspinal regions, whereas they showed no detectable uptake when kept warm (27°C). Histological examinations confirmed the presence of brown adipocytes in these regions. The cold-activated FDG uptake was increased in winter compared with summer (P < 0.001) and was inversely related to BMI (P < 0.001) and total (P < 0.01) and visceral (P < 0.001) fat areas estimated from CT image at the umbilical level. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings, being against the conventional view, indicate the high incidence of metabolically active BAT in adult humans and suggest a role in the control of body temperature and adiposity.

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Crossref · 10.2337/db09-0530

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  • All groups showed major depots of metabolically active fat in the cervical-supraclavicular region, a slightly different site from that in rodents and children, where BAT is found mainly in the interscapular area.

    “All the groups showed major depots of metabolically active fat in the cervical–supraclavicular region, a slightly different site from that in rodents and children, where BAT is found mainly situated in the interscapular area.”

    From Mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation in obesity (2013) · cites this paper as [143]

  • In 2009, five independent groups used PET-CT to identify the presence and study the relevance of BAT in adult humans.

    “However, the real breakthrough arrived in 2009 when five independent groups used PET-CT to identify the presence and study the relevance of BAT in adult humans ([30](#B30), [143](#B143), [165](#B165), [168](#B168), [181](#B181)).”

    From Mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation in obesity (2013) · cites this paper as [143]

  • Expression of UCP1, DIO2, and the β3-adrenergic receptor was reported, indicating the potential responsiveness of human BAT to both hormonal and pharmacological stimuli.

    “The expression of UCP1, DIO2, and the β3-adrenergic receptor was also reported, thereby indicating the potential responsiveness of human BAT to both hormonal and pharmacological stimuli.”

    From Mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation in obesity (2013) · cites this paper as [143]

  • Recent studies have shown that adult humans maintain potentially active brown adipose tissue, making this high energetic tissue a real therapeutic target.

    “Second, recent studies have shown that adult humans maintain potentially active brown adipose tissue, making this high energetic tissue a real therapeutic target 13–17.”

    From Cellular bioenergetics as a target for obesity therapy (2010) · cites this paper as [16]

  • PET/CT imaging was used to prove conclusively that adult humans possess physiologically active UCP1-positive BAT.

    “However, it was only during the past year PET/CT imaging was used to prove conclusively that adult humans possess physiologically active UCP1-positive BAT,13–17.”

    From Cellular bioenergetics as a target for obesity therapy (2010) · cites this paper as [16]

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Authors
Saito, M., Okamatsu-Ogura, Y., Matsushita, M., Watanabe, K., Yoneshiro, T., Nio-Kobayashi, J., Iwanaga, T., Miyagawa, M., Kameya, T., Nakada, K., Kawai, Y., & Tsujisaki, M.
Affiliations
  • Tenshi College (JP)
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan;
  • Hokkaido University (JP)
  • PET Center, Ehime Hospital, Matsuyama, Japan;
  • LSI Sapporo Clinic, Sapporo, Japan.
Corresponding author
Saito, Masayuki
Venue
Diabetes
Published
2009-04-28
Volume
58
Issue
7
Pages
1526-1531
ISSN
  • 0012-1797 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-327X
OpenAlex
W2146625096
Cited by
1,848
References
27
Citations by year
2026: 45 · 2025: 77 · 2024: 55 · 2023: 86 · 2022: 106 · 2021: 139 · 2020: 135 · 2019: 133 · 2018: 144 · 2017: 148 · 2016: 144 · 2015: 142 · 2014: 115 · 2013: 119 · 2012: 98
FWCI
56.96
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Diabetes (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
  • Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte
  • Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiovascular Disease and Adiposity
Keywords
brown adipose tissue, FDG uptake, cold exposure, adiposity, body mass index, visceral fat, energy expenditure, thermoregulation, brown adipocytes, healthy adults, seasonal variation, age differences
MeSH terms
Adipose Tissue, Adult, Autopsy, Adipose Tissue, Brown, Cold Temperature, Environmental Exposure, Female, Humans, Male, Reference Values, Seasons, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Adipocytes, Fluorodeoxyglucose F18, Positron-Emission Tomography, Young Adult

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