Menthol Stimulation of Brown Adipose Tissue

This study is looking at whether applying menthol gel to your skin can activate brown fat (brown adipose tissue), which helps your body burn energy. Researchers want to see if menthol gel increases how much energy your body uses at rest. You might receive Menthol Gel, a sham gel (looks like menthol gel but has no active ingredient), or no gel at all. To join, you need to be between 18 and 40 years old, speak English, and exercise at least 150 minutes a week. The study will measure your resting energy use, skin temperature, and shivering to see if menthol has an effect. The current status of this study is unclear, and it plans to enroll 24 participants.

Study design: This study is an interventional type, meaning participants will receive specific treatments. It plans to enroll 24 participants.
What's involved: You would have gel applied to your chest, or no gel, and then have measurements taken before, 1 hour after, and 2 hours after the application.
Compensation: Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up: Measurements will be taken up to 2 hours after the gel application.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

Menthol Stimulation of Brown Adipose Tissue in Humans: Aim 1

Completed

EARLY_PHASE1Ages 18–40InterventionalBasic science

Indiana University

~12 participants

Updated 2026-08-06 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What's tested:Menthol GelShamTime control

At a glance

Recruiting sites

0 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now

RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open

What they're measuring

Resting energy expenditure

Measured over from prior to the interventions to 1 hour and 2 hours post gel application

+2 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Regulation of Energy Expenditure

NCT07030725

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

Indiana University
Bloomington, Indianano site contact published

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

Blair D Johnson, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Indiana University

Who to contact

This trial hasn't published a contact. View it on ClinicalTrials.gov

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Fluency in English

Participate in 150 minutes or more of at least moderate intensity exercise per week during the previous year. Assessment of moderate intensity physical activity will be determined via the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (i.e., IPAQ) (described in detail in Section 7.0). This questionnaire defines moderate intensity exercise as "activities that take moderate physical effort and make you breathe somewhat harder than normal".

Body fat ≤ 30% as determined by DEXA scan

Be cleared for physical activity according to the 2020 Physical Activity Readiness Questionnnaire (PAR-Q+).

Exclusion

Any autonomic cardiovascular, metabolic, neurologic, endocrine, or respiratory disease, that, in the opinion of the investigator, would exclude them from participation.

Previously diagnosed liver and/or kidney dysfunction, including, but not limited to, acute and/or chronic kidney disease, cirrhosis, hepatitis, and fatty liver disease.

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Current use of tobacco or electronic cigarette, or regular (i.e., more than twice a week) use within the last 1 year.

History of peripheral cold injury, skin disorder (eczema, psoriasis), or excessive tattooing.

Known chronic (i.e., cancer, surgery) or acute conditions (i.e., diarrhea, constipation) of the rectum.

Menthol allergy (described in detail in Section 7.0 and 9.0). Menthol can cause skin irritation when applied topically, especially for people with sensitive skin or allergies. For this reason, recruited participants will be screened for a menthol allergy during the informed consent/screening visit. We will apply a small quantity of the cream (\~2ml) to an isolated body area to limit skin exposure. In the case a rash develops during the application of the cream, research staff will irrigate the area to remove the substance and limit further exposure. A 24-hour follow-up phone call initiated by research staff will be implemented to follow-up on all adverse reactions. Detectable BAT activation during a localized cold stress test (i.e., face cooling test) (procedure described in detail in Section 7.0).

Using medications with direct effects on the cardiovascular system including, but not limited to:

Anticoagulants.

Antiplatelet agents.

ACE Inhibitors.

Angiotensin II receptor blockers.

Angiotensin-receptor neprilysin inhibitors.

Beta blockers.

Calcium, potassium, or sodium channel blockers.

Cholesterol lowering medications.

Digitalis preparations.

Diuretics.

Vasodilators.

Anticholinergics.

What this trial measures

Resting energy expenditurefrom prior to the interventions to 1 hour and 2 hours post gel application
kcal/min
Infrared thermography supraclavicular skin temperaturefrom prior to the interventions to 1 hour and 2 hours post gel application
temperature in degrees C
Shivering via electromyographyfrom prior to the interventions to 1 hour and 2 hours post gel application
a percent of maximal activity

Trialytics