Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Short Communication
  • Published:

Thermogenesis and weight loss in obese individuals: a primary association with organochlorine pollution

International Journal of Obesity volume 28, pages 936–939 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to investigate the potential impact of body organochlorine (OC) pollution on the adaptive change in thermogenesis induced by body weight loss. Fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), and sleeping metabolic rate (SMR) were measured in obese individuals before and after a weight-reducing program. The measured values of SMR were then compared to those predicted from a reference equation established from FM and FFM in control subjects. Plasma OC, leptin, total tri-iodothyronine, and free thyroxine concentrations were also measured in obese subjects before and after weight loss. After weight loss, the measured decrease in SMR was greater than that predicted by changes in FM and FFM. Increased plasma OC concentration was the factor explaining the greatest proportion of the difference between predicted and measured SMR changes induced by body weight loss. OC pollution seems to be a new factor affecting the control of thermogenesis in some obese individuals experiencing body weight loss.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Pelletier C, Imbeault P, Tremblay A . Energy balance and pollution by organochlorines and polychlorinated biphenyls. Obes Rev 2003; 4: 17–24.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Chevrier J, Dewailly E, Ayotte P, Mauriège P, Després J-P, Tremblay A . Body weight loss increases plasma and adipose tissue concentrations of potentially toxic pollutants in obese individuals. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2000; 24: 1272–1278.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Charlier C, Desaive C, Plomteux G . Human exposure to endocrine disrupters: consequences of gastroplasty on plasma concentration of toxic pollutants. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2002; 26: 1465–1468.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Pelletier C, Doucet E, Imbeault P, Tremblay A . Associations between weight-loss induced changes in plasma organochlorine concentrations, serum T3 concentration and resting metabolic rate. Toxicol Sci 2002; 67: 46–51.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Imbeault P, Tremblay A, Simoneau JA, Joanisse DR . Weight loss-induced rise in plasma pollutant is associated with reduced skeletal muscle oxidative capacity. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2002; 282: E574–E579.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Mildaziene V, Nauciene Z, Baniene R, Grigiene J . Multiple effects of 2,2′,5,5′-tetrachlorobiphenyl on oxidative phosphorylation in rat liver mitochondria. Toxicol Sci 2002; 65: 220–227.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Leibel RL, Rosenbaum M, Hirsch J . Changes in energy expenditure resulting from altered body weight. N Engl J Med 1995; 332: 621–628.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Doucet E, St-Pierre S, Alméras N, Després J-P, Bouchard C, Tremblay A . Evidence for the existence of facultative thermogenesis during weight loss. Br J Nutr 2001; 85: 715–723.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. White MD, Bouchard G, Buemann B, Almeras N, Despres JP, Bouchard C et al. Reproducibility of 24-h energy expenditure and macronutrient oxidation rates in an indirect calorimeter. J Appl Physiol 1996; 80: 133–139.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Dionne I, Després J-P, Bouchard C, Tremblay A . Gender difference in the effect of body composition on energy metabolism. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1999; 23: 312–319.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Doucet E, St Pierre S, Almeras N, Mauriège P, Richard D, Tremblay A . Changes in energy expenditure and substrate oxidation resulting from weight loss in obese men and women: is there an important contribution of leptin? J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2000; 85: 1550–1556.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Dulloo AG, Jacquet J . Adaptive reduction in basal metabolic rate in response to food deprivation in humans: a role for feedback signals from fat stores. Am J Clin Nutr 1998; 68: 599–606.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Pardini RS . Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB): effect on mitochondrial enzyme systems. Bull Environ Contamin Toxicol 1971; 6: 539–545.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Koopman-Esseboom C, Morse DC, Weisglas-Kuperus N, Lutkeschipholt IJ, Van der Paauw CG, Tuinstra LG et al. Effects of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls on thyroid hormone status of pregnant women and their infants. Pediatr Res 1994; 36: 468–473.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Hagmar L, Rylander L, Dyremark E, Klasson-Wehler E, Erfurth EM . Plasma concentrations of persistent organochlorines in relation to thyrotropin and thyroid hormone levels in women. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2001; 74: 184–188.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by Servier Canada. Angelo Tremblay is partly funded by the Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity, Nutrition and Energy Balance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Division of Kinesiology, Laval University, Québec, Canada

    A Tremblay & C Pelletier

  2. School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    E Doucet & P Imbeault

Authors
  1. A Tremblay
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C Pelletier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E Doucet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. P Imbeault
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A Tremblay.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tremblay, A., Pelletier, C., Doucet, E. et al. Thermogenesis and weight loss in obese individuals: a primary association with organochlorine pollution. Int J Obes 28, 936–939 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802527

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802527

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links