Feasibility of using infrared thermal imaging to examine brown adipose tissue in infants aged 18 to 25 months.
Ann Hum Biol
; 48(5): 374-381, 2021 Aug.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34781801
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Recent studies in adults indicate that cold-induced temperature change of supraclavicular skin corresponds with brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis.AIM:
This study examined the feasibility of using thermography to assess temperature changes in infants aged 18-25 months after mild cooling. Further, this study sought to evaluate whether cold exposure induces a thermal response suggestive of BAT activity underlying the supraclavicular region. SUBJECTS ANDMETHODS:
Changes in maximum skin temperature at the supraclavicular and interscapular regions were determined using thermal imaging following a mild 5-minute cooling condition (by removal of clothes in a climate-controlled room) in 67 Samoan infants. Temperature changes of the forehead and hand, known BAT-free regions, served as indicators of cooling efficacy.RESULTS:
Infants with increased hand and forehead temperatures after cold exposure were excluded from analysis, reducing the effective sample size to 19 infants. On average, forehead (p < 0.001), hand (p < 0.001) and back (0.029) temperatures dropped significantly while supraclavicular temperatures remained constant. Participants with greater decreases in forehead temperature tended to exhibit greater supraclavicular thermogenesis (p = 0.084), suggesting potential BAT activity in this region.CONCLUSIONS:
While further work is necessary to develop a reliable cooling condition, this study provides proof-of-concept for non-invasive assessment of BAT activity in infants.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Tecido Adiposo Marrom
/
Termogênese
Limite:
Adolescent
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Adult
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Humans
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2021
Tipo de documento:
Article