Impact of brown adipose tissue vascular density on body adiposity in healthy Japanese infants and children

Abstract

Background and Objective: The importance of brown adipose tissue (BAT) is well recognized in healthy infants and children. However, information regarding agerelated changes in BAT vascular density (BAT-d) and the impact of BAT-d on body adiposity are lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the normal values of BAT-d, factors influencing BAT-d, and the impact of BAT-d on body adiposity in healthy infants and children. Methods: This study included 240 participants (127 girls and 113 boys) aged 1 month to 5 years. The tissue total hemoglobin concentration in the supraclavicular region adjusted according to the subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness (SAT) ([total-Hb-Adj] sup ) as BAT-d. SAT in the deltoid and interscapular regions (SAT del+int ), the Kaup index (body weight [g]/height or length [cm]/height or length [cm] � 10) as body adiposity, and fertilization season were also measured. Results:The [total-Hb-Adj] sup of boys was higher than that of girls (r = 0.277, p = 0.009). Younger children had a significantly higher Kaup index (r = 0.495, p < 0.001) and SAT del+int (r = 0.614, p < 0.001) than older children. Children who had higher [total-Hb-Adj] sup had a significantly lower Kaup index (r = 0.495, p = 0.037) and SAT del+int (r = 0.614, p < 0.001). Conclusion:The [total-Hb-Adj] sup , as a parameter of BAT-d, is negatively correlated with body adiposity in children aged 1 month to 5 years, and BAT might affect human obesity to a much greater extent than expected. To prevent or treat obesity in early childhood, the level of BAT-d should be considered when using a dietary intervention.

Association between Cough and Ambient Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Patients with Chronic Cough: An Observational Study in Two Regions of Japan

“…We calculated and ranked the body mass of study participants using height and weight: for participants aged ≥16 years, body mass index (BMI) was calculated as weight (kg) divided by height squared (m 2 ) and ranked as lean (BMI < 18.5), normal (BMI of ≥18.5 and <25.0), and overweight/obesity (BMI ≥ 25.0) [13]. The Kaup index (body weight [g]/height [cm]/height [cm] × 10) was calculated using the same equation as that for BMI for participants aged from 3-5 years and ranked as lean (<14.5), normal (≥14.5 and <16.5) and overweight (≥16.5) [14]. The Rohrer index (weight (kg)/height (m) 3 × 10) was calculated for those aged from 6-15 years and ranked as lean (<115), normal (≥115 and <145), and overweight (≥145) [15].…”