SFEBES2025 Poster Presentations Metabolism, Obesity and Diabetes (68 abstracts)
Impact of intermittent cold exposure on the function of brown adipose tissue in paediatric MASLD
Madeleine Reid 1,2 , Aliya Amin 1 , Alice L Mitchell 2 , Aleck WE Jones 2 , Elizabeth Stamou 3 , Jothi Venkatesh 3 , Emer Fitzpatrick 4,5 , Eirini Kyrana 4,5 , Melanie Nana 1 , Maria Gregori 6 , Caroline Ovadia 1 , Anil Dhawan 4,5 & Catherine Williamson 2
1Department of Women and Children’s Health, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom; 2Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; 3Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering, Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust, London, London, United Kingdom; 4Paediatric Liver, GI, Nutrition Centre, King’s College Hospital, London, United Kingdom; 5Roger Williams Institute of Liver Studies, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom; 6Rheumatology Department, Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
Paediatric obesity is a significant global health issue, associated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). The only current non-invasive treatment is lifestyle change, which succeeds in 25% of cases, highlighting the need for new interventions. Research suggests that activating brown adipose tissue (BAT) can reduce hepatic lipids through non-shivering thermogenesis (NST). Additionally, white adipose tissue (WAT) can transition to a BAT-like phenotype, a process termed ‘beiging’. Since BAT is more prevalent in children and young people, activating it, alongside increasing WAT beiging in this population, may provide significant health benefits. Intermittent cold exposure (ICE) can activate BAT in humans, making it a promising treatment strategy. We hypothesise that 1 hour of ICE using a 6°C liquid cooling vest will activate BAT in MASLD patients and healthy controls. Nine MASLD and thirteen control participants aged 8-16 were recruited. Vital signs and metabolic parameters were measured to assess ICE-related changes. Skin temperature was monitored during treatment, with thermal images and MRI scans taken pre- and post-ICE to evaluate BAT activation. Results indicated significant differences in ICE responses between MASLD and control participants, and between sexes. Male MASLD patients showed a decrease in fasting blood glucose (P = 0.0365), and a significant decrease in sternum skin temperature (P = 0.0006), with their BAT-associated supraclavicular temperature remaining consistent, suggestive of BAT activation. However, thermal imaging revealed decreased supraclavicular temperature. Female controls showed an ICE-induced decrease in sternum skin temperature (P = 0.0328), but maintained their supraclavicular temperature, indicating BAT activation; this was not seen in female MASLD patients. MRI data indicated an ICE-induced reduction in fat fraction among controls (P = 0.0033), associated with NST. ICE was tolerable and acceptable to participants. These preliminary findings suggest a greater ICE response in controls and sex differences. More participants are needed to better understand potential clinical implications of ICE for paediatric MASLD.
Volume 109
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Endocrine Abstracts
ISSN 1470-3947 (print) | ISSN 1479-6848 (online)
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