Clinical Trial: Effect of Hypothyroidism on Brown Adipose Tissue
Study Status: Active, not recruiting
Recruit Status: Active, not recruiting
Study Type: Observational
Official Title: Effect of Restoration of Euthyroidism in Patients With Primary Hypothyroidism on Brown Adipose Tissue Thermogenesis - the ThyroBAT Study
Brief Summary: The investigators aim to study whether hypothyroidism negatively affects Brown adipose tissue (BAT) function in humans and whether BAT function can be restored to normal by thyroid hormone supplementation.
Detailed Summary:
Hypothyroidism is a frequent endocrine disorder, the prevalence of subclinical disease being 4.3% and of overt disease being 0.3%. Patients suffering from hypothyroidism frequently complain of increased cold sensitivity and involuntary weight gain, indicating changes in energy expenditure and response to cold challenge.
Recently, brown adipose tissue (BAT) has regained attention as an energy expending tissue. While it was previously thought to be of no or negligible relevance in human adults, recent studies clearly demonstrated the presence and metabolic activity of BAT in human adults. Upon activation of BAT by the sympathetic nervous system intracellular lipid stores are rapidly depleted. The generated free fatty acids fuel beta-oxidation and the respiratory chain within the mitochondria and activate at the same time uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). This protein acts as a protonophore, allowing the flux of protons along the electrochemical gradient into the inner mitochondrial matrix instead of transferring their energy to adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-synthase. The short circuiting of the oxidative phosphorylation within the mitochondria leads to highly active cellular respiration and generation of heat. Basic research highlights the importance of thyroid hormone in the development and function of BAT.
It has recently been shown that hyperthyroidism exerts activating effects on BAT in adult humans.
The investigators aim to study whether hypothyroidism negatively affects BAT function in humans and whether BAT function can be restored to normal by thyroid hormone supplementation.
Sponsor: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Current Primary Outcome: difference in cold induced thermogenesis between baseline and restoration of euthyroidism, assessed as the increase in resting energy expenditure after a mild cold stimulus determined by indirect calorimetry [ Time Frame: before and after 3 months after restoration of euthyroidism ]
Original Primary Outcome: Same as current
Current Secondary Outcome:
- difference in supraclavicular skin temperature (before and after cold exposure) [ Time Frame: before and after 3 months after restoration of euthyroidism ]
- levels of Irisin in serum [ Time Frame: before and after 3 months after restoration of euthyroidism ]
- patient's perception of cold [ Time Frame: before and after 3 months after restoration of euthyroidism ]
Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current
Information By: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Dates:
Date Received: February 9, 2015
Date Started: April 2015
Date Completion: August 2017
Last Updated: April 13, 2017
Last Verified: April 2017
