Glucocorticoids suppress brown adipose tissue function in humans: a double-blind placebo-controlled study

Aim: To investigate the effect of glucocorticoids on brown adipose tissue (BAT) function in humans. Materials and methods: In a randomized double-blind cross-over design, 13 healthy adults underwent 1 week of oral prednisolone treatment (15mg/d) and placebo with an intervening 2-week wash-out period. BAT function was assessed in response to cooling (19°C) and to a standardized meal, by measuring fluoro-deoxyglucose (FDG) uptake using positron emission tomography-computed tomography and skin temperatures overlying the supraclavicular (SCL) BAT depots using infrared thermography. Postprandial energy and substrate metabolism was assessed by indirect calorimetry. Results: During cooling, prednisolone significantly reduced BAT FDG uptake (standardized uptake value, SUV 6.1±2.2 vs 3.7±1.2;