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CompletedNCT02682706MIBATUpdated Apr 6, 2018

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Human Supraclavicular Brown Adipose Tissue - MIBAT Study

An observational study in Healthy, sponsored by University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland. Completed at 2 sites in Switzerland. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 50 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2018-04-06.

Sponsored by University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
26
Ages
18 Years to 50 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is unique in its capability to convert chemical energy directly into heat. Active BAT increases energy expenditure and can thereby counteract obesity and insulin resistance. Currently, the imaging method of choice to assess BAT morphology and function is 18F-FDG-PET/CT which is expensive and exposes patients or healthy volunteers to ionizing radiation, thus impeding larger prospective studies.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could constitute a suitable alternative and preliminary small-scale studies are promising.

The overall aim of this research proposal is to develop reliable magnetic resonance imaging techniques to facilitate the study of brown adipose tissue in human adults, specifically in the context of endocrine disease.

Specifically, investigators want to

  1. Develop a reliable MR imaging protocol for human BAT and compare BAT volume to cold induced nonshivering thermogenesis as a measure of BAT activity.
  2. Assess the intra-individual variance of BAT volume measured by MRI.
  3. Evaluate direct measurement of BAT temperature by functional MRI.
02

Conditions studied

  • Healthy

Keywords

  • brown adipose tissue
  • magnetic resonance imaging
  • energy expenditure
  • non-shivering thermogenesis
03

In context

Lead sponsor

University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland is the lead sponsor of 968 studies on the registry; 191 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 50 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

  • Healthy volunteers
  • Age 18-40 years
  • Body mass index (BMI): 17.5-27 kg/m²

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • known concomitant disease influencing thyroid hormone metabolism
  • severe diseases: chronic heart failure, liver cirrhosis, kidney failure, active cancer
  • known hypersensitivity to cold, e.g. primary or secondary Raynaud's syndrome
  • abuse of alcohol or illicit drugs
  • Women who are pregnant or breast feeding
  • Inability to follow the procedures of the study, e.g. due to language problems, psychological disorders, dementia, etc. of the participant
  • Previous enrolment into the current study
  • implanted device not compatible with MRI, e.g. pace maker
05

Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
26 participants (actual)
Patient registry
No
Biospecimen retention
Samples without dna
06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Correlation of scBAT volume and cold induced thermogenesis as determined by indirect calorimetry

    measurement of scBAT volume and measurement of cold induced thermogenesis as determined by indirect calorimetry, both values measured in a timeframe of two weeks

    Time frame: both measurements within 2 weeks

07

Study locations

2 sites
  • University Hospital Basel, Department of Endocrinology
    Basel, BS 4031, Switzerland
  • University Hospital of Basel, Department of Radiology
    Basel, BS 4031, Switzerland
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Senn JR, Maushart CI, Gashi G, Michel R, Lalive d'Epinay M, Vogt R, Becker AS, Muller J, Balaz M, Wolfrum C, Burger IA, Betz MJ. Outdoor Temperature Influences Cold Induced Thermogenesis in Humans. Front Physiol. 2018 Aug 23;9:1184. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01184. eCollection 2018. PubMed 30190681 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Apr 6, 2018, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02682706
Lead sponsor
University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Feb 15, 2016
Start date
Feb 2016
Primary completion
Mar 2018
Completion
Mar 2018
Last update
Apr 6, 2018

Study contacts

Matthias J Betz, MD
principal investigator · University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Apr 2018. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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