The purpose of this study is to elucidate the effects of Fluvastatin on brown adipose tissue activity in humans.
Statins, inhibitors of cholesterol biosynthesis, act by inhibiting the enzyme of the mevalonate pathway. Although the clinical benefits of statins are undisputable, they have been shown to increase insulin resistance and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, the mechanism of which is currently not clear. The main function of brown adipose tissue (BAT) is non-shivering thermogenesis (i.e. heat production through energy dissipation) in brown adipocytes. There has been a growing interest in BAT as a novel therapeutic approach to increase energy expenditure in order to facilitate weight-loss and increase insulin sensitivity. BAT activity will be assessed using calorimetric test and \[18F\]-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET). We speculate that statins inhibit BAT function and that this mechanism may contribute to the above mentioned increase in insulin resistance.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
17
Fluvastatin 40 mg twice daily per mouth for 14 days.
University Hospital of Zurich, PET/MR Center
Schlieren, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland
University Hospital of Basel
Basel, Switzerland
(18)F-FDG uptake in the supraclavicular brown adipose tissue measured by PET by the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax)
Cold and Mirabegron induced 18F-FDG uptake into the supra-clavicular brown adipose tissue (scBAT) as determined by 18F-FDG PET/MR standardized uptake value (SUVmax) after two weeks of treatment with Fluvastatin.
Time frame: 14 days
The mean standardized uptake value for 18F-FDG uptake (SUVmean) in the supraclavicular adipose tissue depot
SUVmean in the supraclavicular adipose tissue depot (analog. SUVmax)
Time frame: 14 days
Volume of supraclavicular BAT
Volume of supraclavicular BAT as determined on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Time frame: 14 days
fat fraction with T2 relaxation time of the BAT depot
fat fraction with T2 relaxation time of the scBAT depot as determined by MRI
Time frame: 14 days
Cold induced thermogenesis
Cold induced thermogenesis: Increase in energy expenditure above resting metabolic rate in response to a mild cold stimulus and pharmacologic stimulation with Mirabegron.
Time frame: 14 days
Supraclavicular skin temperature in response to mild cold stimulus
Supraclavicular skin temperature in response to mild cold stimulus measured by local probe
Time frame: 14 days
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.