ABDOMINAL FAT DISTRIBUTION AND BLOOD LIPIDS IN PRE AND POST MENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if abdominal fat distribution is associated with menopausal status, and to establish if abdominal fat distribution is related to the blood lipid profile. Twenty-three premenopausal (PRE), 27 postmenopausal (POST) and 28 postmenopausal women on estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) had regional abdominal fat determined using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fasting blood lipids were measured. The women (age 47–59 yr.) were matched for body mass index (BMI) and level of physical activity. Age and menopausal status were not found to be significant predictors of total abdominal fat, visceral fat or subscutaneous fat, while physical activity was a significant predictor (p < 0.05) for total abdominal fat (R2 = 0.08), visceral fat (R2 = 0.23) and % visceral fat (R2 = 0.21). Menopausal status only contributed another 7 % of the variability in %visceral fat. The % visceral abodminal fat was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the PRE women than in either postmenopausal group (PRE 23.2 ± 1.7, POST 28.9 ± 1.8, ERT 28.9 ± 1.6%). Menopausal status or age did not influence any the blood lipid values. Visceral fat content was a significant predictor of cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations, but accounted for < 10% of the variability in these levels. In conclusion, in early postmenopausal women, physical activity and menopausal status can account for part of the increase in %visceral fat. Increases in total abdominal fat content were not observed and ERT is not associated with additional benefits in abdominal fat distribution compared to postmenopausal women not on ERT, or in the abdominal fat distribution association with the blood lipid profile. *Supported by a grant from NASPE