Measuring Brown Fat Using MRI and Implications in the Metabolic Syndrome

Qian Yu; Shan Huang; Ting-Ting Xu; Yuan-Cheng Wang; Shenghong Ju

doi:10.1002/jmri.27340

Measuring Brown Fat Using MRI and Implications in the Metabolic Syndrome

J Magn Reson Imaging. 2021 Nov;54(5):1377-1392. doi: 10.1002/jmri.27340. Epub 2020 Oct 12.

Authors

Qian Yu¹, Shan Huang¹, Ting-Ting Xu¹, Yuan-Cheng Wang¹, Shenghong Ju¹

Affiliation

¹ Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Imaging, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.

PMID: 33047448
DOI: 10.1002/jmri.27340

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome is presently becoming a global health concern. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) has the potential for managing the risk factors of metabolic syndrome by adjusting plasma lipids and glucose. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive and radiation-free imaging modality for BAT research and clinical applications in both animals and humans. In the past decade, MRI technologies for detecting and characterizing BAT have developed rapidly, with progress in MRI sequencing and the emerging understanding of BAT. In this review, we focus on the main MRI methods for BAT including currently used imaging techniques and new methods and their implications for the symptoms and complications of metabolic syndrome. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 2.

Keywords: MRI; brown fat; metabolic syndrome.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Adipose Tissue, Brown* / diagnostic imaging
Animals
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Metabolic Syndrome* / diagnostic imaging
Risk Factors