Cold-induced metabolic flexibility explains ethnic disparities among individuals with obesity and insulin resistance
Authors' conclusion
Significant ethnic differences exist in the association of CIT-driven MetF to insulin resistance. Chinese individuals exhibited robust MetF-insulin sensitivity correlation, whereas Asian Indians showed a blunted response without such independent association. This suggests that ethnicity-specific strategies targeting MetF are crucial for addressing metabolic health disparities.
Study context
- Population
- Chinese and Asian Indian individuals with overweight and pre-metabolic or metabolic syndrome; average body mass index (BMI) 27.5 kg/m²
- Participants
- 41 participants
- Comparison
- Chinese vs Asian Indian participants
- Chinesen = 31
- Indiann = 10
- Outcome
- Cold-induced MetF and insulin sensitivity by ethnicity
Methodological detailsWhole-body calorimetry after 1-h cold exposure (≈14.5 °C) and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)
- Whole-body calorimetry after 1-h cold exposure (≈14.5 °C) and OGTT
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Asian Indians had significantly higher fasting insulin and lower insulin sensitivity than Chinese
- Chinese had greater increase in energy expenditure and more pronounced fuel switch (respiratory exchange ratio (RER), carbohydrate oxidation (COX), fat oxidation (FOX)) with cold
- In Chinese, better cold-induced metabolic flexibility (MetF) independently associated with lower fasting insulin and insulin resistance, after adjusting for age, sex and body fat
- Association not observed in Asian Indians
Original publication
Cold-induced metabolic flexibility explains ethnic disparities among individuals with obesity and insulin resistance. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 6 April 2026. doi:10.
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