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Related Concept Videos

Thermoregulation01:26

Thermoregulation

The human body has a sophisticated thermoregulation system that employs negative feedback mechanisms to maintain an optimal core temperature. When the core temperature drops, peripheral and central thermoreceptors send signals to the hypothalamus, activating the heat-promoting center. This center triggers several responses aimed at increasing the core temperature. First, vasoconstriction reduces the flow of warm blood from internal organs to the skin so that the heat is not lost from the skin,...
Body Temperature01:25

Body Temperature

The body's temperature, measured in degrees, is determined by the balance between heat production and dissipation to the surrounding environment. For instance, if exercising vigorously, the body will produce more heat, causing sweat and dissipating that heat. Despite extreme environmental conditions and physical exertion, the human temperature-control system maintains a constant core body temperature (the temperature of deep tissues, which are the tissues located beneath the skin and other...
Body Temperature01:07

Body Temperature

Body temperature reflects the equilibrium between heat production and heat loss within the body. Most heat is generated by metabolically active tissues, particularly the liver, heart, brain, kidneys, and endocrine organs. At rest, skeletal muscles contribute 20–30% of total heat production, but during vigorous exercise, this can increase up to 30–40 times.
The average body temperature is approximately 37°C (98.6°F) and typically ranges from 36.1–37.2°C (97–99°F), remaining relatively stable...
Decreased Body Temperature01:29

Decreased Body Temperature

A decreased body temperature can occur in patients with hypothermia and frostbite. Heat loss with extended cold exposure overpowers the body's ability to create heat, resulting in hypothermia. Core temperature readings help classify hypothermia. Mild hypothermia is temperatures between 32 °C (89.6 °F) and 35°C (95 °F) and is caused by impaired thermoregulation. Moderate hypothermia is temperatures between 28 C (82.4 °F) and 32 °C (89.6 °F) caused by sustained extreme cold exposure, and severe...
Factors Affecting Body Temperature01:28

Factors Affecting Body Temperature

As a nurse, it is vital to understand the factors affecting body temperature to monitor variations and effectively evaluate deviations from regular.
Factors may  include:
Thermosensation01:43

Thermosensation

Peripheral thermosensation is the perception of external temperature. A change in temperature (on the surface of the skin and other tissues) is detected by a family of temperature-sensitive ion channels called Transient Receptor Potential, or TRP, receptors. These receptors are located on free nerve endings. Those detecting cold temperatures are closer to the surface of the skin than the nerve endings detecting warmth. These thermoTRP channels, while temperature selective, have relatively...

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Updated: May 10, 2026

Using a Combination of Indirect Calorimetry, Infrared Thermography, and Blood Glucose Levels to Measure Brown Adipose Tissue Thermogenesis in Humans
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Brown fat activation mediates cold-induced thermogenesis in adult humans in response to a mild decrease in ambient

Kong Y Chen1, Robert J Brychta, Joyce D Linderman

  • 1Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1613, USA.

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|June 20, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Mild cold exposure increases brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity and energy expenditure in humans. This study shows BAT activation correlates with individual cold-induced thermogenesis (CIT) response, suggesting a potential obesity treatment strategy.

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06:57

Determining Basal Energy Expenditure and the Capacity of Thermogenic Adipocytes to Expend Energy in Obese Mice

Published on: November 11, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Human physiology
  • Metabolism
  • Thermogenesis

Background:

  • The role of brown adipose tissue (BAT) in human energy balance during sustained cold exposure is not fully understood.
  • Limitations in measuring BAT activity and energy expenditure (EE) have hindered previous research.
  • Understanding BAT's contribution to cold-induced thermogenesis (CIT) is crucial for metabolic research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and characterize the role of brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation in cold-induced thermogenesis (CIT).
  • To quantify the impact of mild cold exposure on human BAT activity and overall energy expenditure.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized crossover study involving 31 healthy volunteers.
  • Participants underwent overnight whole-room indirect calorimetry at 24°C and 19°C, followed by 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (PET) scans.
  • BAT activity was assessed by comparing PET uptake at different temperatures; volunteers experienced both conditions sequentially.

Main Results:

  • Exposure to 19°C, compared to 24°C, significantly increased energy expenditure (EE) by 5.3% (P < .001), confirming a CIT response.
  • Mean BAT activity also increased significantly by 10.5% (P < .001) at 19°C.
  • Multiple regression analysis revealed that BAT activity, age, and gender independently influenced individual CIT variability.

Conclusions:

  • Even mild reductions in ambient temperature, achievable in climate-controlled environments, effectively stimulate human BAT activity.
  • This study demonstrates a previously unrecognized spectrum of BAT activation in healthy adults during mild cold exposure.
  • Enhanced cold-induced BAT stimulation presents a potential novel environmental strategy for managing obesity.