Volume 82, Issue 1 p. 147-154
Original Article

Association between habitual physical activity and brown adipose tissue activity in individuals undergoing PET-CT scan

Petros C. Dinas

Petros C. Dinas

FAME Laboratory, Department of Exercise Science, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Greece

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Alexandra Nikaki

Alexandra Nikaki

Nuclear Medicine Department and Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Department, “DTCA HYGEIA” Hospital, Athens, Greece

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Athanasios Z. Jamurtas

Athanasios Z. Jamurtas

School of Physical Education and Exercise Science, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Greece

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Vassilios Prassopoulos

Vassilios Prassopoulos

Nuclear Medicine Department and Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Department, “DTCA HYGEIA” Hospital, Athens, Greece

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Roxani Efthymiadou

Roxani Efthymiadou

Nuclear Medicine Department and Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Department, “DTCA HYGEIA” Hospital, Athens, Greece

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Yiannis Koutedakis

Yiannis Koutedakis

School of Physical Education and Exercise Science, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Greece

Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, UK

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Panagiotis Georgoulias

Panagiotis Georgoulias

Nuclear Medicine Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece

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Andreas D. Flouris

Corresponding Author

Andreas D. Flouris

FAME Laboratory, Department of Exercise Science, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Greece

Correspondence: Andreas D. Flouris, FAME Laboratory, School of Physical Education and Exercise Science, University of Thessaly, Karies, Trikala, 42100, Greece. Tel.: +302431500601, Fax: +302431063191; E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this author
First published: 26 September 2014
Citations: 41

Summary

Objective

Augmented brown adipose tissue (BAT) mass and activity lead to higher basic metabolic rate which is beneficial against obesity. Our aim was to investigate whether habitual (i.e. usual weekly participation) physical activity is linked with BAT activity and mass in humans, in a group of patients undergoing 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scanning.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Patients

Forty patients with cancer [26 male; 14 female; age 52·7 ± 17·5; body mass index (BMI) 26·4 ± 4·5].

Measurements

Patients completed the ‘usual week’ form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and underwent assessment of BAT activity/mass via 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT.

Results

We detected a significant association between habitual physical activity (METs-minute/week) and BAT activity [normalized by body weight (BW) (τ = 0·28, P = 0·02), body surface area (BSA) (τ = 0·29, P = 0·02) and lean body mass (LBM) (τ = 0·38, P = 0·002)]. We also found a significant negative relationship between BMI and BAT activity [normalized by BW (τ = −0·30, P = 0·006), BSA (τ = −0·31, P = 0·004) and LBM (τ = −0·45, P = 0·001)] as well as a significant negative relationship between age and BAT activity [normalized by LBM (τ = −0·28, P = 0·01)]. The results also indicate significant differences between low/moderate/high levels of habitual physical activity and BAT activity (P < 0·05). Moreover, BAT activity was different across the BMI categories (normal/overweight/obese) in both sexes (P < 0·05). Finally, BAT activity was greater in women than in men (P < 0·05).

Conclusions

Increased participation in habitual physical activity is associated with higher BAT activity. Moreover, individuals with normal BMI demonstrate higher BAT activity compared to overweight and obese individuals. Finally, age is inversely linked with BAT activity, while women demonstrate higher BAT activity than men.

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