BRown Fat Activity Measurement With Infrared imaginG tHermography andThermogenesis - the BRIGHT Study

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The whole body calorimeter is sensitive enough to reliably measure cold-induced thermogenesis as a surrogate marker of brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation. The infrared (IR) energy flux from activated BAT can be accurately imaged and quantified using an IR imaging device, and that this IR energy output may be correlated to the increased energy expenditure quantified by the whole body calorimeter.

Detailed Description
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The recent rediscovery of functional brown adipose tissue (BAT) in healthy adults has opened up the exciting possibility of manipulating BAT for obesity management, and it is imperative to develop BAT imaging modalities that are non-invasive and safe for repeated use. Given that heat is a specific end-product of uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1)-mediated BAT, this study examines whether surface body temperature assessed using infrared (IR) thermography can be a non-invasive measure to accurately and precisely predict brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation upon cold stimulation, which involves verifying an semi-automated method for characterizing thermal images. In addition, this study also aims to validate the use of a whole-body calorimeter to pick up changes in energy expenditure upon cold-induced thermogenesis. Lean, healthy male volunteers will be recruited. Thermal imaging of cervical-supraclavicular BAT will be done using an IR camera to assess changes in BAT activation. Blood samples will also be drawn at regular intervals to track changes in serum metabolites upon BAT activation. All in all, this study hopes to provide more supporting evidence that IR thermography is a viable imaging modality that is non-invasive, safe and reproducible of studying BAT activity.

Official Title
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BRown Fat Activity Measurement With Infrared imaginG tHermography and Thermogenesis - the BRIGHT Study

Conditions
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Energy Expenditure, Obesity, Adipose Tissue, Brown

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Cold air
* Other: Cold water


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Male Ethnic Chinese Age between 21 to 35 years Body Mass Index 18.5 to 22.9 Normal resting blood pressure  120/80 mmHg Normal fasting blood glucose level <5.5 mmol/L Exclusion Criteria: Do not train for or partake in competitive sports Do not have any major diseases Not on any prescribed medication

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 21 Years
Maximum Age: 35 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Cold air<br>Subjects to be seated in an airtight chamber at an ambient temperature between 16 to 20 degrees Celsius for 1 hour. | Other: Cold air<br> <br> |
| Experimental: Cold water<br>Subjects to be seated in an airtight chamber at an ambient temperature of 24 degrees Celsius, with their hands and feet fully immersed in cold water for 5 minutes. | Other: Cold water<br> <br> |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Temperature at cervical-supraclavicular region | The temperature at the cervical-supraclavicular region following cold exposure will be determined using infrared thermal imaging. | 45 minutes cold exposure | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Energy expenditure during cold exposure | Energy expenditure during cold exposure will be determined using the whole-body calorimeter. | 45 minutes cold exposure |