The association of brown adipose tissue (BAT) and body fat distribution and their combined effects on metabolic health in humans remains unknown. Here, we retrospectively identify individuals with and without BAT on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) and assemble a propensity score-matched study cohort to compare body fat distribution and determine its role in mediating the benefits of brown fat. We find that BAT is associated with lower amounts of visceral adipose tissue and higher amounts of subcutaneous adipose tissue, resulting in less central obesity. In addition, BAT is independently associated with lower blood glucose and white blood cell count, improved lipids, lower prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and decreased liver fat accumulation. These observations are most prominent in individuals with central obesity. Our results support a role of BAT in protection from visceral adiposity and improved metabolic health.
Keywords: brown adipose tissue; brown fat; glucose metabolism; hepatic steatosis; lipid metabolism; metabolic health; subcutaneous fat; type 2 diabetes mellitus; visceral fat; visceral obesity.
© 2021 The Author(s).