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Brown Fat Activity Is not Apparent in Subjects With HIV Lipodystrophy and Increased Resting Energy Expenditure
Author(s) -
Kosmiski Lisa A.,
SageEl Adrienne,
Kealey Elizabeth H.,
Bessesen Daniel H.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1038/oby.2011.231
Subject(s) - hypermetabolism , resting energy expenditure , lipodystrophy , thermogenesis , brown adipose tissue , medicine , endocrinology , positron emission tomography , adipose tissue , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , energy expenditure , nuclear medicine , antiretroviral therapy , immunology , viral load
The HIV lipodystrophy (LD) syndrome is associated with increased resting energy expenditure (REE), but the basis of this hypermetabolism has not been determined. The objective of this pilot study was to determine if brown fat is activated in subjects with HIV LD and increased REE. In this descriptive study of four subjects with HIV LD and marked hypermetabolism, REE was measured by indirect calorimetry and brown fat activity was determined by 18 F‐fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron‐emission tomography (PET) combined with anatomic computed tomography (CT). Brown fat activity was not apparent in any subject with HIV LD and resting hypermetabolism. Therefore, brown fat activation is unlikely to be the principal cause of the increased REE associated with the HIV LD syndrome. Evidence of adaptive thermogenesis has been demonstrated in this syndrome, but this study suggests that tissues other than brown adipose tissue (BAT) are responsible. Further understanding of the chronic hypermetabolism associated with HIV LD could provide new insights into the regulation of energy balance.