Minimal changes in environmental temperature result in a significant increase in energy expenditure and changes in the hormonal homeostasis in healthy adults

Abstract

ObjectiveResting energy expenditure (EE) is a major contributor to the total EE and thus plays an important role in body weight regulation. Adaptive thermogenesis is a major component of EE in rodents, but little is known on the effects of exposure of humans to mild and sustainable reduction in environmental temperature.DesignTo characterize the dynamic changes in continuously measured resting EE, substrate utilization, and hormonal axes simultaneously in response to mild reduction in environmental temperature, we performed a cross-over intervention.MethodsTwenty-five volunteers underwent two 12-h recordings of EE in whole room indirect calorimeters at 24 and 19 °C with simultaneous measurement of spontaneous movements and hormonal axes.ResultsExposure to 19 °C resulted in an increase in plasma and urine norepinephrine levels (P<0.0001), and a 5.96% (P<0.001) increase in EE without significant changes in spontaneous physical activity. Exposure to the lower temperature resulted in a significant increase in free fatty acid levels (P<0.01), fasting insulin levels (P<0.05), and a marginal decrease in postprandial glucose levels. A small but significant (P<0.002) increase in serum free thyroxine and urinary free cortisol (P<0.05) was observed at 19 °C.ConclusionsOur observations indicate that exposure to 19 °C, a mild and tolerable cold temperature, results in a predictable increase in EE driven by a sustained rise in catecholamine and the activation of counter-regulatory mechanisms.