Short-term cooling increases serum angiopoietin-like 4 levels in healthy lean men

Background Cold exposure enhances sympathetic outflow to peripheral tissues, thereby stimulating intracellular lipolysis in white adipose tissue and increasing the lipoprotein lipase–dependent uptake and combustion of triglyceride-derived fatty acids (FAs) by brown adipose tissue. Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) inhibits lipoprotein lipase and can be regulated by cold exposure, at least in mice. Objective In the present study, we examined the effect of short-term mild cooling on serum ANGPTL4 levels in healthy lean men of White Caucasian and South Asian descent. Methods Healthy, lean White Caucasian ( n  = 12) and South Asian ( n  = 12) men were exposed to an individualized cooling protocol for 2 hours. Serum ANGPTL4 levels were measured before and after cooling, and its relation with previously measured parameters (ie, free fatty acid [FFA] levels, body fat percentage, and resting energy expenditure) was determined. Results Short-term cooling increased ANGPTL4 levels (+17%, P R 2  = 0.250, P R 2  = 0.338, P R 2  = 0.235, P P Conclusion Short-term cooling increases ANGPTL4 levels in healthy lean men. We anticipate that FFA liberated from white adipose tissue during cooling increases ANGPTL4 to limit uptake of triglyceride-derived FA by this tissue.