Frequent Extreme Cold Exposure and Brown Fat and Cold-Induced Thermogenesis: A Study in a Monozygotic Twin

Abstract

IntroductionMild cold acclimation is known to increase brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity and cold-induced thermogenesis (CIT) in humans. We here tested the effect of a lifestyle with frequent exposure to extreme cold on BAT and CIT in a Dutch man known as ‘the Iceman’, who has multiple world records in withstanding extreme cold challenges. Furthermore, his monozygotic twin brother who has a ‘normal’ sedentary lifestyle without extreme cold exposures was measured.MethodsThe Iceman (subject A) and his brother (subject B) were studied during mild cold (13°C) and thermoneutral conditions (31°C). Measurements included BAT activity and respiratory muscle activity by [18F]FDG-PET/CT imaging and energy expenditure through indirect calorimetry. In addition, body temperatures, cardiovascular parameters, skin perfusion, and thermal sensation and comfort were measured. Finally, we determined polymorphisms for uncoupling protein-1 and β3-adrenergic receptor.ResultsSubjects had comparable BAT activity (A: 1144 SUVtotal and B: 1325 SUVtotal), within the range previously observed in young adult men. They were genotyped with the polymorphism for uncoupling protein-1 (G/G). CIT was relatively high (A: 40.1% and B: 41.9%), but unlike during our previous cold exposure tests in young adult men, here both subjects practiced a g-Tummo like breathing technique, which involves vigorous respiratory muscle activity. This was confirmed by high [18F]FDG-uptake in respiratory muscle.ConclusionNo significant differences were found between the two subjects, indicating that a lifestyle with frequent exposures to extreme cold does not seem to affect BAT activity and CIT. In both subjects, BAT was not higher compared to earlier observations, whereas CIT was very high, suggesting that g-Tummo like breathing during cold exposure may cause additional heat production by vigorous isometric respiratory muscle contraction. The results must be interpreted with caution given the low subject number and the fact that both participants practised the g-Tummo like breathing technique.

Adversity of prolonged extreme cold exposure among adult clients diagnosed with coronary artery diseases: a primer for recommending community health nursing intervention

“…Consequently, people who are exposed to extreme cold of long duration encounter various adversities during prolonged extreme cold exposure that commonly associated to CAD such as musculoskeletal and respiratory manifestations (Davídkovová et al., ; Heaven, ; Lavigne et al., ; Schuldt & Roh, ; Singh & Purohit, ; Vosselman, Vijgen, Kingma, Brans, & MarkenLichtenbelt, ; Wergen et al., ; Zeka et al., ; Zhaoxing et al., ; Zheng et al., ). These commonly experienced difficulties were described by the informants as chest pain, feeling of heaviness or stabbing pain in the chest, difficulty and shortness of breath, palpitations or thready pulse, nervousness, headache, numbness of arms or hands and feet, dizziness and blurred vision which are predominant signs and symptoms of CAD.…”

“…Heaven () and Vosselman et al. () claim that when the body is exposed to extreme cold, it converts the white fats or body proteins to brown adipose tissues to produce essential extra heat to warm the body resulting in vast production of fatty acids and glycerol which may stimulate the rapid accumulation of LDL or bad cholesterol in the blood stream that promotes artery clogging leading to blockage. In addition, as the body tries to stabilize the normal core body temperature, shivering and vasoconstriction normally occur.…”

“…In general, all the informants, both male and female, claim that they experience discomforts during intense low temperature that interfere with their health status. Heaven (2013) and Vosselman et al (2014) claim that when the body is exposed to extreme cold, it converts the white fats or body proteins to brown adipose tissues to produce essential extra heat to warm the body resulting in vast production of fatty acids and glycerol which may stimulate the rapid accumulation of LDL or bad cholesterol in the blood stream that promotes artery clogging leading to blockage.…”

“…In addition, as the body tries to stabilize the normal core body temperature, shivering and vasoconstriction normally occur. Yet, changes to blood pressure happen affecting the arterial blood pressure such as mean blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure or fractional diastolic pressure and systolic blood pressure or fractional systolic pressure which are very important predictors of CAD (Choate, Denton, Evans, & Hodgson, 2014;Tansey & Johnson, 2015;Vosselman et al, 2014;Yu & Lumbers, 2000).…”

Thermoregulatory, metabolic, and cardiovascular responses during 88 min of full‐body ice immersion – A case study

“…The increased heat production and oxygen consumption during ice immersion might partly be due to the activity of brown adipose tissue, which has been suggested to be responsible for non-shivering thermogenesis (Marken Lichtenbelt et al, 2009;Nedergaard & Cannon, 2010). However, in a previous study using the same participant and his monozygotic twin brother (who was not cold acclimatized), cold air exposure (13°C) did not elicit differences in brown fat activity (Vosselman, Vijgen, Kingma, Brans, & Marken Lichtenbelt, 2014). Therefore, it is not likely that the increased heat production (~150 W) during crushed ice immersion can be explained by brown fat activity in our participant.…”