Brown adipose tissue estimated with the magnetic resonance imaging fat fraction is associated with glucose metabolism in adolescents.

Background: Despite therapeutic potential against obesity and diabetes, the associations of brown adipose tissue (BAT) with glucose metabolism in young humans are relatively unexplored.

Objectives: To investigate possible associations between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) estimates of BAT and glucose metabolism, whilst considering sex, age, and adiposity, in adolescents with normal and overweight/obese phenotypes.

Methods: In 143 subjects (10-20 years), MRI estimates of BAT were assessed as cervical-supraclavicular adipose tissue (sBAT) fat fraction (FF) and from water-fat MRI.