Reduced brown adipose tissue activity during cold exposure is a metabolic feature of the human thrifty phenotype

We recently demonstrated that thrifty subjects, characterized by a greater decrease in 24 h energy expenditure (24hEE) during short-term fasting, have less capacity for cold-induced thermogenesis (CIT) during 24 h of mild cold exposure.

As cold-induced brown adipose tissue activation (CIBA) is a determinant of CIT, we sought to investigate whether thrifty individuals also have reduced CIBA.

Twenty-four healthy subjects (age: 29.8 ± 9.5y, body fat: 27.3 ± 12.4%, 63% male) were admitted to our clinical research unit and underwent two 24hEE assessments in a whole-room indirect calorimeter during energy balance and fasting conditions at thermoneutrality to quantify their degree of thriftiness. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography scans were performed after exposure to 16 °C for 2 h to quantify peak CIBA.

A greater decrease in 24hEE during fasting was associated with lower peak CIBA (r = 0.50, p = 0.01), such that a 100 kcal/day greater reduction in 24hEE related to an average 3.2 g/mL lower peak CIBA.

Our results indicate that reduced CIBA is a metabolic trait of the thrifty phenotype which might explain reduced CIT capacity and greater predisposition towards weight gain in individuals with a thrifty metabolism.