Body mass index as a determinant of brown adipose tissue function in healthy children.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether body mass index (BMI) percentile and ethnicity influence skin temperature overlying brown adipose tissue (BAT) depots in the supraclavicular region in healthy children.


METHODS
Infrared thermography measured supraclavicular region temperature (T(SCR)) at baseline and after exposure to a mild cool stimulus (single hand immersion in water at 20.1 °C) for 5 minutes in children aged 6-11 years (n = 55). The studies were undertaken in a normal school environment.


RESULTS
BMI percentile and ethnicity were significant predictors of baseline T(SCR), with an inverse relationship between BMI percentile persisting after adjustment for ethnicity. Twenty-four children demonstrated a significant rise in T(SCR) after exposure to the cool stimulus. BMI percentile was a significant predictor of T(SCR) response, although there was no effect of ethnicity on T(SCR) change after exposure to the cool stimulus.


CONCLUSIONS
We have demonstrated a negative relationship between BMI percentile and both baseline T(SCR), colocating with the primary region of BAT, and the change in T(SCR) in response to the cool stimulus. Future studies aimed at determining the primary factors regulating BAT function in healthy children should be targeted at the goal of maintaining a healthy BMI trajectory during childhood.
Early Life Research Unit, Academic Child Health, School of Medicine, University Hospital, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
Lindsay
L
Robinson
Early Life Research Unit, Academic Child Health, School of Medicine, University Hospital, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
Shalini
S
Ojha
Early Life Research Unit, Academic Child Health, School of Medicine, University Hospital, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom. Electronic address: michael.symonds@nottingham.ac.uk.
Michael E
ME
Symonds
Early Life Research Unit, Academic Child Health, School of Medicine, University Hospital, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
Helen
H
Budge
D002001:Adipose Tissue, Brown / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012881:Skin Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D022722:Thermogenesis; D013817:Thermography / Q000379:methods*
BAT; BMI; Body mass index; Brown adipose tissue; PET-CT; Positron-emission tomography with computed tomography; SCR; Supraclavicular region; Supraclavicular region temperature; T(SCR)