Clinical Research Directory

Brown Fat as Therapeutic Strategy for Obesity and Associated Metabolic Diseases Via Functional Food/Nutraceutical Approach - Molecular Mechanisms of Pentacyclic Triterpenes (BRACE)

To examine MA (Maslinic Acid) safety and efficacy in ameliorating insulin resistance and the cardinal features of metabolic syndrome. Chronic exposure to MA as a potent PPARgamma binder nutraceutical over 12 weeks will result in improvement in the features of metabolic syndrome including waist circumference, blood pressure, serum HDL-C level, fasting serum triglycerides and fasting plasma glucose. Expected secondary endpoints include favorable changes in metabolic rate, respiratory quotient, fat oxidation, body composition, weight, BAT/WAT compartments, batokines/adipokines, proinflammatory biomarkers, insulin sensitivity and beta cell function.

Winter-Swimming and Brown Adipose Tissue Activity in Middel-aged Obese Subjects (WinterBAT).

This study investigates repetitive cold-water exposure on brown fat activity assessed by PET/CT scanning. Furthermore we will assess glucose control upon winter-swimming. Obese prediabetic men and women will be randomized to winter-swimming or control conditions for 4 months.

Intermittent Cold Exposure and Brown Adipose Tissue Hyperplasia

This clinical trial explores how repeated short-term cold exposure impacts the molecular and physiological function of brown adipose tissue (BAT), a thermogenic organ associated with improved cardiometabolic health. While intermittent cold exposure has been shown to increase BAT activity and mass, as measured by fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scans, the molecular adaptations within BAT and other thermogenic tissues including skeletal muscle and white adipose tissue (WAT) remain poorly understood. Healthy adults aged 18 to 40 years (6 males and 6 females) will participate in a 10-day cold acclimation protocol (2 hours per day using water-perfused cooling blankets). The primary objective is to determine how cold exposure alters cellular heterogeneity and gene expression in BAT, WAT, and skeletal muscle. Participants will undergo baseline assessments, including measurements of energy expenditure, core and skin temperature, muscle activity, and blood sampling, each performed in both warm and cold conditions. These assessments will be followed by dynamic total-body PET/CT imaging during cold exposure and tissue biopsies from BAT, subcutaneous WAT, and skeletal muscle. These procedures will be repeated after the cold acclimation protocol to evaluate physiological and molecular changes. Additional outcomes include changes in energy expenditure, cold tolerance, and immune cell responses induced by cold exposure.

Brown Fat Activation and Browning Efficiency Augmented by Chronic Cold and Nutraceuticals for Brown Adipose Tissue-mediated Effect Against Metabolic Syndrome (BEACON BEAMS Study)

Our body fat (adipose tissue) is largely made up of white adipose tissue (WAT) that stores surplus energy as white fat depots. In addition, adult humans have another type of fat similar to the brown fat in babies that burns up fat to generate heat for maintenance of body temperature during cold exposure. Adults have much lesser amounts of such brown adipose tissue (BAT), most of which are located within the sides of the neck and under the skin above the collar bones as well as along the sides of the spine. BAT consists of both classical brown fat identical to that found in babies as well as beige fat (composed of brown-in-white or 'brite' fat cells) found mainly in adults. Both types of BAT burn fat upon activation by various stimuli such as cold or by substances like curcumin found in turmeric ginger rhizome root. This study is carried out to find out the effects of cold stimulation and/or a known BAT-activating nutraceutical among those overweight/obese people suffering from metabolic syndrome.

Investigation of the Mechanisms of the Tendency to Hypothermia in Newborns and Premature Neonates

Newborns have thermoregulatory mechanisms that differ from those of adults. Instead of producing heat through shivering, newborns primarily rely on non-shivering thermogenesis by the brown adipose tissue. The development of this thermogenic tissue starts around the 26th gestational week and continues until shortly before birth, after which no further growth occurs. As a result, premature infants, who have less developed brown fat, are more prone to reduced heat production and are at higher risk for hypothermia. There are few human studies examining the thermoregulatory differences and mechanisms between full-term and premature neonates, and the findings remain inconclusive. In this study, the investigators aim to conduct a prospective, observational research. Researchers will compare body temperature, brown adipose tissue activity, and specific plasma markers between full-term and premature neonates in insensive care units and during elective surgeries.