Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 11 · 2016

4 results

Glucagon increases energy expenditure independently of brown adipose tissue activation in humans.

Salem V, Izzi-Engbeaya C, Coello C, Thomas DB, Chambers ES, Comninos AN, Buckley A, Win Z, Al-Nahhas A, Rabiner EA, Gunn RN, Budge H and 4 more

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Symonds ME, Bloom SR, Tan TM, Dhillo WS

Diabetes, obesity & metabolism20 Nov 2015Cited by 152 (Europe PMC)

PMID26434748PMCIDPMC4710848DOI10.1111/dom.12585PepBankPUB-26434748

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Summary

AimsTo investigate, for a given energy expenditure (EE) rise, the differential effects of glucagon infusion and cold exposure on brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation in humans.MethodsIndirect calorimetry and supraclavicular thermography was performed in 11 healthy male volunteers before and after: cold exposure; glucagon infusion (at 23 °C); and vehicle infusion (at 23 °C). All volunteers underwent (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT scanning with cold exposure. Subjects with cold-induced BAT activation on (18)F-FDG PET/CT (n = 8) underwent a randomly allocated second (18)F-FDG PET/CT scan (at 23 °C), either with glucagon infusion (n = 4) or vehicle infusion (n = 4).ResultsWe observed that EE increased by 14% after cold exposure and by 15% after glucagon infusion (50 ng/kg/min; p < 0.05 vs control for both). Cold exposure produced an increase in neck temperature (+0.44 °C; p < 0.001 vs control), but glucagon infusion did not alter neck temperature. In subjects with a cold-induced increase in the metabolic activity of supraclavicular BAT on (18)F-FDG PET/CT, a significant rise in the metabolic activity of BAT after glucagon infusion was not detected. Cold exposure increased sympathetic activation, as measured by circulating norepinephrine levels, but glucagon infusion did not.ConclusionsGlucagon increases EE by a similar magnitude compared with cold activation, but independently of BAT thermogenesis. This finding is of importance for the development of safe treatments for obesity through upregulation of EE.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study4

4 results from studies that gave the peptide. 4 results from people.

01HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism
In men with cold-responsive brown adipose tissue, glucagon infusion did not significantly increase brown adipose tissue metabolic activity.
In plain wordsIn men with cold-responsive brown fat, glucagon infusion did not significantly increase brown fat activity.
Peptide
Glucagon
Outcome
No significant changeBrown adipose tissue metabolic activity
Study
n = 8
Comparator
vehicle infusion
Outcome group
Thermogenesis · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
50 ng/kg/min · infusionAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
In subjects with a cold-induced increase in the metabolic activity of supraclavicular BAT on (18)F-FDG PET/CT, a significant rise in the metabolic activity of BAT after glucagon infusion was not detected.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Subjects with cold-induced BAT activation on (18)F-FDG PET/CT (n = 8) underwent a randomly allocated second (18)F-FDG PET/CT scan (at 23 °C), either with glucagon infusion (n = 4) or vehicle infusion (n = 4).
Summary · context
Indirect calorimetry and supraclavicular thermography was performed in 11 healthy male volunteers before and after: cold exposure; glucagon infusion (at 23 °C); and vehicle infusion (at 23 °C).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2643474803
02HumanNon-randomized trialMechanism
In healthy men, glucagon infusion increased energy expenditure by 15% versus control.
In plain wordsIn healthy men, glucagon infusion increased energy expenditure by 15% compared with control.
Peptide
Glucagon
Outcome
IncreaseEnergy expenditure
Study
n = 11
Comparator
vehicle infusion
Outcome group
Energy expenditure and thermogenesis · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
50 ng/kg/min · infusionAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Energy expenditure increase
15%
glucagon
P value
< 0.05
versus control
Source sentences
Summary
We observed that EE increased by 14% after cold exposure and by 15% after glucagon infusion (50 ng/kg/min; p < 0.05 vs control for both).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Indirect calorimetry and supraclavicular thermography was performed in 11 healthy male volunteers before and after: cold exposure; glucagon infusion (at 23 °C); and vehicle infusion (at 23 °C).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2643474801
03HumanNon-randomized trialMechanism
In healthy men, glucagon infusion did not alter neck temperature.
In plain wordsIn healthy men, glucagon infusion did not change neck temperature.
Peptide
Glucagon
Outcome
No significant changeNeck temperature
Study
n = 11
Comparator
vehicle infusion
Outcome group
Thermogenesis · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
50 ng/kg/min · infusionAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Cold exposure produced an increase in neck temperature (+0.44 °C; p < 0.001 vs control), but glucagon infusion did not alter neck temperature.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Indirect calorimetry and supraclavicular thermography was performed in 11 healthy male volunteers before and after: cold exposure; glucagon infusion (at 23 °C); and vehicle infusion (at 23 °C).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2643474802
04HumanNon-randomized trialMechanism
In healthy men, glucagon infusion did not increase sympathetic activation measured by circulating norepinephrine.
In plain wordsIn healthy men, glucagon infusion did not increase sympathetic activity measured by blood norepinephrine.
Peptide
Glucagon
Outcome
No significant changeSympathetic activation
Study
n = 11
Comparator
vehicle infusion
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Endocrine and hormones
Studied dose
50 ng/kg/min · infusionAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Cold exposure increased sympathetic activation, as measured by circulating norepinephrine levels, but glucagon infusion did not.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Indirect calorimetry and supraclavicular thermography was performed in 11 healthy male volunteers before and after: cold exposure; glucagon infusion (at 23 °C); and vehicle infusion (at 23 °C).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2643474804

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Registered trials3

Trials this study reports on, or that list this study as a reference. Registry data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

3 trials · 2 ongoing · 1 completed · 1 with posted results · source ClinicalTrials.gov (opens in a new tab)

Active, not recruitingPhase 1NCT03139305

Effect of Prolonged (72 Hour) Glucagon Administration on Energy Expenditure in Healthy Obese Subjects

AdventHealth Translational Research Instituten = 3024 Oct 2017 to est. Feb 2027

Obesity

Trial page ClinicalTrials.govUpdated 30 Mar 2026

Active, not recruitingPhase 1NCT02817659

To Determine Tolerability to Glucagon Infusion in Obese Subjects

AdventHealth Translational Research Instituten = 201 Nov 2016 to est. Dec 2026

Obesity

Trial page ClinicalTrials.govUpdated 30 Mar 2026

CompletedNot applicableResults postedNCT01935791

Investigating Brown Adipose Tissue Activation in Humans

Imperial College Londonn = 11Jul 2013 to 5 Nov 2018

Metabolic Diseases

Trial page ClinicalTrials.govUpdated 18 May 2021

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
28 Oct 2026, 02:03 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
27 Oct 2026, 16:35 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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