Fig. 4: Fertilization in the cold season prevents obesity through the activation of BAT in the offspring.
From: Pre-fertilization-origin preservation of brown fat-mediated energy expenditure in humans
a, Associations of the season of fertilization and BAT activity with adiposity-related parameters in healthy young males (Cohort 1). b, Associations of the season of fertilization and BAT-d with adiposity-related parameters in the healthy participants with a wide range of ages (Cohort 2). SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure. c, Impact of the seasons of birth and fertilization on adiposity-related parameters including BMI, body fat content, visceral fat area and waist circumference in b. d, Structural equation modelling for predicting the factors associated with BMI in a. e, Structural equation modelling for predicting the factors associated with BMI in b. Biologically independent samples (a–e). Pearson’s (for age, BAT activity and BAT-d) or Kendall’s rank correlation analysis (for seasons) and two-tailed P value by correlation analysis (a,b). Data are mean ± s.e.m.; two-tailed P value by unpaired Student’s t-test. Numbers of participants (n) are indicated on the graph (c). Structural equation modelling: standardized β and two-tailed P values (d,e). NS, not significant.
