Cross-over comparative study of cold-induced brown adipose tissue activity in Greenlandic Inuit and Danes: rationale, design, and methodology.

Abstract

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is essential for non-shivering thermogenesis, a key survival mechanism for Arctic populations exposed to chronic cold. As BAT dissipates energy as heat, it presents a potential target for improving cardiometabolic health and treating obesity. The Arctic Inuit represents a unique metabolic model due to distinct genetic and environmental adaptations. This study advances methods in cardiometabolic research by investigating BAT activation in Arctic Inuit and ethnic Danes under cold exposure. A comparative crossover study of 20 Inuit and Danes includes two sessions: (A) thermal comfort and (B) 2 hours of individualised cooling. Each session concludes with fat biopsies and [¹⁸F]FDG-PET/CT scans to quantify BAT activity and volume. Additional measures include blood sampling and infrared thermography (IRT). The cooling protocol and biological sampling are designed to capture key metabolic signatures of BAT activation, enabling detailed insight into thermogenic function and its cardiometabolic implications. PET/CT scans contribute valuable insights into metabolic processes and the ethical considerations balance the benefit of unique insight against radiation risk. Given limitations in accessibility and radiation exposure, this study also evaluates IRT as a low-risk, accessible alternative to PET/CT scans. This methodological advancement supported approval by the North Denmark Region ethics committee (N-20220042). As [¹⁸ F]FDG-PET/CT is not available in Arctic Greenland, data collection was conducted in Denmark with an accessible Inuit population. The study forms part of a broader study on climate and health, approved by the ethics committee for Greenland.