Abstract
We aimed to identify the independent associations of genomic ancestry and education level with abdominal fat distributions in the 1982 Pelotas birth cohort study, Brazil. In 2,890 participants (1,409 men and 1,481 women), genomic ancestry was assessed using genotype data on 370,539 genome-wide variants to quantify ancestral proportions in each individual. Years of completed education was used to indicate socio-economic position. Visceral fat depth and subcutaneous abdominal fat thickness were measured by ultrasound at age 29–31y; these measures were adjusted for BMI to indicate abdominal fat distributions. Linear regression models were performed, separately by sex. Admixture was observed between European (median proportion 85.3), African (6.6), and Native American (6.3) ancestries, with a strong inverse correlation between the African and European ancestry scores (ρ = -0.93; p<0.001). Independent of education level, African ancestry was inversely associated with both visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat distributions in men (both P = 0.001), and inversely associated with subcutaneous abdominal fat distribution in women (p = 0.009). Independent of genomic ancestry, higher education level was associated with lower visceral fat, but higher subcutaneous fat, in both men and women (all p<0.001). Our findings, from an admixed population, indicate that both genomic ancestry and education level were independently associated with abdominal fat distribution in adults. African ancestry appeared to lower abdominal fat distributions, particularly in men.
Highlights
Obesity has become a global public health problem, reaching epidemic proportions and coexisting with under-nutrition in low and middle-income countries [1]
We aimed to investigate the independent associations of genomic ancestry and education level with visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat distribution assessed by ultrasound in adults participating in the 1982 Pelotas birth cohort study, Brazil
The latest phase of the 1982 Pelotas birth cohort study was approved by the Federal University of Pelotas Ethical Committee, which is affiliated with the Brazilian Federal Medical Council
Summary
Obesity has become a global public health problem, reaching epidemic proportions and coexisting with under-nutrition in low and middle-income countries [1]. Education and abdominal fat Earlier phases were funded by the International Development Research Centre (Canada), the WHO (Department of Child and Adolescent Health and Development and Human Reproduction Programme), the Overseas Development Administration (currently the Department for International Development, United Kingdom), the European Union, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, the National Program for Centres of Excellence, the Pastorate of the Child (Brazil), the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq; Brazil), and the Ministry of Health (Brazil). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript
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