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Cooling gel could flip the Body's Fat-Burning switch

NCT ID NCT07030725

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed This study
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Aug 06, 2026 · Last updated Aug 07, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This early trial tests whether applying a menthol gel to the chest can activate brown adipose tissue—the body's heat-generating fat—and increase energy expenditure. Twelve healthy, physically active adults will receive menthol gel, a sham gel, or no gel on separate visits. Researchers will measure resting energy expenditure, skin temperature near the collarbone, and shivering to see if menthol mimics cold exposure and boosts metabolism.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
Menthol gel (5% L-menthol) applied to the chest
What this could lead to
If menthol activates brown fat, it could point toward a simple, drug-free way to boost metabolism and aid weight management.
What could go wrong
This is a very early, small trial (12 people) measuring short-term effects, so results may not apply broadly. Menthol may cause skin irritation or fail to activate brown fat as hoped.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Early phase 1

The earliest testing in people: a first look at safety, in a very small group.

Participants

12 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Mar 2025

Finished

Jun 2025

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 to 40 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * 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 Criteria: * 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.

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As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Indiana University

    Bloomington, Indiana, 47405, United States