Effects of a Short Term Caloric Restriction on T Cell Activation in Fat

Summary

Overweight and obesity are major problems and their complications such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus pose great burdens on healthcare systems. There is accumulating evidence to support obesity being a chronic inflammatory disorder mediated in part by the expansion of adipose (fat) tissue.

In addition to adipocytes (fat cells), adipose tissue contains a whole range of other cell types including some immune (white blood) cells. The relative proportions of immune cell subpopulations and interactions between the different cell types within adipose tissue may be important in the development of type 2 diabetes.

Previous research by the investigators has suggested that there may be important differences in the activation status of certain immune cells located in adipose tissue with increased overweight and the production of leptin - an appetite regulating hormone. Properties of adipose tissue and inflammatory cells located within it may therefore be sensitive to changes in our nutritional status.

The purpose of the present study is to investigate changes in T cell activation in adipose tissue alongside other immunometabolic properties before and after a short period of dieting compared to changes in blood.

Participants will include males aged between 35-55 years old who meet the criteria for inclusion. After taking some preliminary measurements and monitoring of normal daily activities, participants will reduce their calorie intake to 50 % of their normal intake/requirements for 3 consecutive days and will attend 1 session of Laboratory testing before and 1 after this period which will take place in the Physiology Laboratories at the University of Bath.

It is hoped that investigating immunometabolic responses within adipose tissue following an acute nutritional challenge will help lead to a better understanding of the development of diseases associated with being overweight and ultimately help in the development of more effective methods for prevention and treatment.

Conditions

• Inflammation

Interventions

OTHER

Calorie restriction

Participants will reduce calorie intake by 50 % for a period of 3 consecutive days.

OTHER

Activity monitoring

For 1 week, participants will be fitted with an activity monitor (Actiheart) to estimate energy expenditure (during the same week as the diet monitoring). The activity and diet monitoring data will be used together to confirm that participants are in a state of energy balance and an average of these 2 values taken - 50 % of this average value will be the target calorie intake for the 3 day calorie restriction period.

OTHER

Diet monitoring

For 1 week, participants will be asked to record all food and fluids consumed to estimate energy intake (during the same week as the activity monitoring). The activity and diet monitoring data will be used together to confirm that participants are in a state of energy balance and an average of these 2 values taken - 50 % of this average value will be the target calorie intake for the 3 day calorie restriction period.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

  collaborator OTHER

• Unilever R&D

  collaborator INDUSTRY

• University of Bath

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Dylan Thompson, PhD · Professor

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

35 Years

Max Age

55 Years

Sex

MALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2013-01-31

Primary Completion

2014-11-30

Completion

2014-11-30

Countries

• United Kingdom

Study Locations