Changes In Body Fat Distribution Research Articles

The role of adipokines in HIV lipodystrophy.

Changes in body fat distribution are frequent findings in HIV/AIDS patients, with onset shortly after initiation of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Lipoatrophy (loss of peripheral subcutaneous fat from the face, arms, legs and buttocks, coupled with pronounced blood vessels in the arms and legs), can occur alone or in combination with lipohypertrophy (fat accumulation on the dorsocervical and abdominal regions). These changes are associated with diabetes and insulin resistance, metabolic abnormalities and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. The adipose tissue is now considered to be not only an energy storage organ, but also a metabolically-active endocrine organ that releases bioactive peptides (e.g., adipokines) into the bloodstream. Patients with lipodystrophy may experience marked changes in the circulating levels of adipocyte-secreted hormones, including adiponectin, leptin and resistin, to name a few. The role of adipocytokines in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated lipodystrophy is still not enough understood. The most studied of adipokines, adiponectin expression is suppressed in obesity and diabetes, and inversely-correlated with insulin resistance and serum triglycerides. Previously published studies have shown that circulating adiponectin levels are lower in patients with chronic HIV infection accompanied by adipose tissue redistribution. Furthermore, in patients treated with cART, especially those with lipodystrophy, a gradual decrease of adiponectin levels has been noticed, coupled with a consecutive increase in cardiovascular risk. On the other hand, the correlation between cART and leptin levels in HIV/AIDS patients is still up for debate. Recently published studies have either associated cART with lipodystrophy and hypoleptinemia, or denied an effect of cART on serum leptin levels. Despite promising data from animal studies, the association of resistin with insulin resistance, diabetes or obesity has not been consistent in humans. Moreover, as part of a complex network of cART-related metabolic changes, elevated resistin levels have been reported in HIV/AIDS patients when compared to uninfected individuals. The predictive value of changes in adipocytokine levels for adipose tissue redistribution and other connected metabolic disturbances should be evaluated in future studies to eventually enhance our understanding of the complex relations between HIV infection per se, drug-associated toxic effects, host genetic predisposition and several other factors participating and generating lipodystrophy and a subsequent development of the HIV metabolic syndrome.

Longitudinal Changes in Body Fat and Its Distribution in Relation to Cardiometabolic Risk in Black South African Women.

Ethnic differences in body composition and cardiometabolic risk have been reported in cross-sectional studies. This study aimed to investigate changes in body composition over 5.5 years, and its association with cardiometabolic risk in premenopausal black South African (SA) women. Changes in body composition and body fat distribution (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and computerized tomography), fasting glucose, insulin, and lipid concentrations, were measured in 63 black SA women at baseline (age: 27 ± 8 years), and 5.5 years later. Body weight and fat mass (FM) increased by 6.9 ± 9.9 kg and 4.3 ± 6.9 kg, respectively, over the 5.5 years with a relative (%FM) increase in central and decrease in peripheral FM (all P < 0.05). Fasting glucose and lipid concentrations (except HDL-cholesterol) increased over the follow-up period (all P < 0.05). Both baseline and changes in body fat distribution were associated with cardiometabolic risk. Independent of baseline age, FM and insulin sensitivity, baseline trunk:leg was associated with reduced insulin sensitivity at follow-up (Matsuda index; β = -0.41, P = 0.002). Increasing trunk:gynoid ratio was associated with higher plasma insulin levels (β = 0.31, P = 0.023) and reduced insulin sensitivity (Matsuda index; β = -0.52, P < 0.001) at follow-up. Weight gain in free-living black SA women over 5.5 years was associated with a centralization of fat mass, which predicted an increase in cardiometabolic risk.

Baseline of visceral fat area and decreased body weight correlate with improved pulmonary function after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in Chinese obese patients with BMI 28-35 kg/m² and type 2 diabetes: a 6-month follow-up.

BackgroundAssociations between demographic data and pulmonary function have not been adequately examined in patients that underwent Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB). This study was designed to examine changes in body fat distribution and metabolic parameters after RYGB and whether these changes correlated with improved lung function.MethodsA retrospective review of 32 ethnic Chinese with obesity with body mass index (BMI) 28–35 kg/m2 and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) was conducted, focusing on metabolic outcomes and pulmonary function 6 months after RYGB.ResultsForced expiratory volume during first second (FEV1), percentage of forced expiratory volume during first second (FEV1 [%pred]), forced vital capacity (FVC), and percentage of forced vital capacity (FVC [%pred]) all improved significantly after RYGB. These increases all were negatively correlated with decreases in body weight and visceral fat area (VFA). The improvements of FEV1, FEV1 [%pred] and FVC were also negatively correlated with baseline of body weight and VFA. Furthermore, increases in FEV1 and FVC were independently associated with baseline of VFA (β = −0.003, P = 0.000; β = −0.004, P = 0.002, respectively).ConclusionsThe baseline of VFA and weight loss induced by RYGB independently correlated with improved pulmonary function in Chinese patients.

Sex and sex steroids: impact on the kinetics of fatty acids underlying body shape.

Adult humans have a remarkable sexual dimorphism in body shape. Men tend to store relatively more fat in the upper body whereas women store more fat in the lower body. We do not have a complete understanding of the mechanisms underlying these differences, but we know that people who preferentially store abdominal fat are at greater risk of metabolic disease. It is also known that the changes in sex steroid concentrations during puberty and again with advancing age are accompanied by changes in body fat distribution. The objective of this review is to describe what has been learned regarding the mechanisms underlying changes in regional body fat distribution that occur as a result of changes in sex hormones and to delineate effects of sex steroids in modulating body composition.

Evaluation of daily energy expenditure and health-related physical fitness parameters in patients with cholelithiasis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the daily energy expenditure; resting metabolic rate (RMR); health-related physical fitness parameters such as maximal aerobic capacity, muscle strength, and flexibility; pulmonary function tests (PFTs); and body composition and body fat distribution changes in patients with cholelithiasis, and to compare them with healthy controls. Thirty female patients with cholelithiasis and 30 controls were included in this study. Daily physical activity was monitored using a metabolic Holter and the maximal aerobic capacity was estimated using the Astrand submaximal exercise protocol. The body composition was established with a bioelectrical impedance analyzer. RMR, PFTs, strength, flexibility, circumference, and skinfold measurements were also carried out. Maximal aerobic capacity, trunk flexibility, daily moderate activity duration, daily vigorous activity duration, total energy expenditure, RMR, PFT, lean body mass, adiposity, and body fat distribution values were not significantly different between the patients and the controls. The cholelithiasis patients had lower daily step numbers, handgrip strength, and back-leg strength values, whereas their higher daily sleep duration values were comparable with those of the controls. Our results suggest that daily physical activity and muscle strength were impaired in female cholelithiasis patients when compared with the healthy controls. We suggest that using daily exercises, including not only aerobic but also strength training as lifestyle modifications in cholelithiasis patients, might be helpful for the development of more beneficial illness management strategies.

Epicardial fat is associated with duration of antiretroviral therapy and coronary atherosclerosis.

Cytokines released by epicardial fat are implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy have been associated with changes in body fat distribution and coronary artery disease. We sought to determine whether HIV infection is associated with greater epicardial fat and whether epicardial fat is associated with subclinical coronary atherosclerosis. We studied 579 HIV-infected and 353 HIV-uninfected men aged 40-70 years with noncontrast computed tomography to measure epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume and coronary artery calcium (CAC). Total plaque score (TPS) and plaque subtypes (noncalcified, calcified, and mixed) were measured by coronary computed tomography angiography in 706 men. We evaluated the association between EAT and HIV serostatus, and the association of EAT with subclinical atherosclerosis, adjusting for age, race, and serostatus and with additional cardiovascular risk factors and tested for modifying effects of HIV serostatus. HIV-infected men had greater EAT than HIV-uninfected men (P=0.001). EAT was positively associated with duration of antiretroviral therapy (P=0.02), specifically azidothymidine (P<0.05). EAT was associated with presence of any coronary artery plaque (P=0.006) and noncalcified plaque (P=0.001), adjusting for age, race, serostatus, and cardiovascular risk factors. Among men with CAC, EAT was associated with CAC extent (P=0.006). HIV serostatus did not modify associations between EAT and either CAC extent or presence of plaque. Greater epicardial fat volume in HIV-infected men and its association with coronary plaque and antiretroviral therapy duration suggest potential mechanisms that might lead to increased risk for cardiovascular disease in HIV.

The Multidomain Mobility Lab in Older Persons: From Bench to Bedside. The Assessment of Body Composition in Older Persons at Risk of Mobility Limitations

With body composition it is possible to divide human body in compartments on the basis of different physical properties. The two level body composition model subdividing the whole body in fat mass and fat free mass is the most used in epidemiological and clinical studies in the elderly. Body composition techniques may be used to study ageing process. Changes in body composition occur as part of the normal ageing process and are associated with important effects on health and function. It has been shown that body composition changes with aging, with an increase in fat mass and a decrease in muscle mass, have important consequences on health and physical disability. Moreover body fat distribution changes with adverse metabolic profiles and increased cardiovascular risk. The purpose of this review is to describe the basic principles and techniques for fat free mass and fat mass evaluation, highlighting the advantages and limitations of different available body composition methods.

Lipid Levels and Changes in Body Fat Distribution in Treatment-Naive, HIV-1–Infected Adults Treated With Rilpivirine or Efavirenz for 96 Weeks in the ECHO and THRIVE Trials

Pooled ECHO/THRIVE lipid and body fat data are presented from the ECHO (Efficacy Comparison in Treatment-Naïve, HIV-Infected Subjects of TMC278 and Efavirenz) and THRIVE (TMC278 Against HIV, in a Once-Daily Regimen Versus Efavirenz) trials. We assessed the 96-week effects on lipids, adverse events (AEs), and body fat distribution (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) of rilpivirine (RPV) and EFV plus 2 nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (N[t]RTIs) in treatment-naive adults infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Rilpivirine produced minimal changes in total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides. Compared with RPV, EFV significantly (P < .001) increased lipid levels. Decreases in the TC/HDL-C ratio were similar with RPV and EFV. Background N[t]RTI affected RPV-induced lipid changes; all levels increased with zidovudine/lamivudine (3TC) and abacavir/3TC (except triglycerides, which were unchanged). With emtricitabine/tenofovir, levels of HDL-C were increased, TC and LDL-C were unchanged, and triglycerides were decreased. With EFV, lipid levels increased in each N[t]RTI subgroup (except triglycerides were unchanged with abacavir/3TC). Fewer (P < .001) RPV-treated patients than EFV-treated patients had TC, LDL-C, and triglyceride levels above National Cholesterol Education Program cutoffs. More RPV- than EFV-treated patients had HDL-C values below these cutoffs (P = .02). Dyslipidemia AEs were less common with RPV than with EFV. Similar proportions of patients had a ≥10% decrease in limb fat (16% with RPV and 17% with EFV). Limb fat was significantly (P < .001) increased to a similar extent (by 12% with RPV and 11% with EFV). At week 96, patients receiving zidovudine/3TC had lost limb fat, and those receiving emtricitabine/tenofovir had gained it. Over the course of 96 weeks, RPV-based therapy was associated with lower increases in lipid parameters and fewer dyslipidemia AEs than EFV-based treatment. Body fat distribution changes were similar between treatments. The N[t]RTI regimen affected lipid and body fat distribution changes.

Association of serum tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand with body fat distribution as assessed by dual X-rays absorptiometry.

A low chronic inflammation mediated by cytokine release is considered a major pathogenic mechanism accounting for the higher risk of cardiovascular disease in the overweight/obese population. In this context, although the existence of a possible interaction between soluble tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) and quantity and localization, of adiposity in the body has been hypothesized, no studies have yet investigated this link by radiologic techniques able to assess directly fat mass (FM) in different body regions. To address this issue, we assessed body fat distribution by dual X-rays absorptiometry (DXA) in a sample of 103 women and investigated the possible association between the derived adiposity measures and serum TRAIL concentration. The level of TRAIL showed a positive and independent correlation with arms FM (P < 0.05), trunk FM (P < 0.001) and trunk FM% (P < 0.05), total FM and total FM% (P < 0.001 for both), and an inverse association with legs FM% (P < 0.05). Only trunk FM retained a significant correlation (P < 0.05) with TRAIL after adjusting for all the other indices of regional adiposity. In conclusion, from our study it emerged a significant and independent association of serum TRAIL levels with overall, and, mainly, central adiposity. Further studies are needed to longitudinally investigate the cause-effect relationship between change in body fat distribution and TRAIL.

Exercise and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Changes in Tissue-specific Fat Distribution and Cardiac Function

To prospectively assess the effects of an exercise intervention on organ-specific fat accumulation and cardiac function in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants, and the study protocol was approved by the medical ethics committee. The study followed 12 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (seven men; mean age, 46 years ± 2 [standard error]) before and after 6 months of moderate-intensity exercise, followed by a high-altitude trekking expedition with exercise of long duration. Abdominal, epicardial, and paracardial fat volume were measured by using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Cardiac function was quantified with cardiac MR, and images were analyzed by a researcher who was supervised by a senior researcher (4 and 21 years of respective experience in cardiac MR). Hepatic, myocardial, and intramyocellular triglyceride (TG) content relative to water were measured with proton MR spectroscopy at 1.5 and 7 T. Two-tailed paired t tests were used for statistical analysis. Exercise reduced visceral abdominal fat volume from 348 mL ± 57 to 219 mL ± 33 (P < .01), and subcutaneous abdominal fat volume remained unchanged (P = .9). Exercise decreased hepatic TG content from 6.8% ± 2.3 to 4.6% ± 1.6 (P < .01) and paracardial fat volume from 4.6 mL ± 0.9 to 3.7 mL ± 0.8 (P = .02). Exercise did not change epicardial fat volume (P = .9), myocardial TG content (P = .9), intramyocellular lipid content (P = .3), or cardiac function (P = .5). A 6-month exercise intervention in type 2 diabetes mellitus decreased hepatic TG content and visceral abdominal and paracardial fat volume, which are associated with increased cardiovascular risk, but cardiac function was unaffected. Tissue-specific exercise-induced changes in body fat distribution in type 2 diabetes mellitus were demonstrated in this study.

Exercise and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Changes in Tissue-specific Fat Distribution and Cardiac Function

Purpose To prospectively assess the effects of an exercise intervention on organ-specific fat accumulation and cardiac function in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods Written informed consent was obtained from all participants, and the study protocol was approved by the medical ethics committee. The study followed 12 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (seven men; mean age, 46 years ± 2 [standard error]) before and after 6 months of moderate-intensity exercise, followed by a high-altitude trekking expedition with exercise of long duration. Abdominal, epicardial, and paracardial fat volume were measured by using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Cardiac function was quantified with cardiac MR, and images were analyzed by a researcher who was supervised by a senior researcher (4 and 21 years of respective experience in cardiac MR). Hepatic, myocardial, and intramyocellular triglyceride (TG) content relative to water were measured with proton MR spectroscopy at 1.5 and 7 T. Two-tailed paired t tests were used for statistical analysis. Results Exercise reduced visceral abdominal fat volume from 348 mL ± 57 to 219 mL ± 33 (P < .01), and subcutaneous abdominal fat volume remained unchanged (P = .9). Exercise decreased hepatic TG content from 6.8% ± 2.3 to 4.6% ± 1.6 (P < .01) and paracardial fat volume from 4.6 mL ± 0.9 to 3.7 mL ± 0.8 (P = .02). Exercise did not change epicardial fat volume (P = .9), myocardial TG content (P = .9), intramyocellular lipid content (P = .3), or cardiac function (P = .5). Conclusion A 6-month exercise intervention in type 2 diabetes mellitus decreased hepatic TG content and visceral abdominal and paracardial fat volume, which are associated with increased cardiovascular risk, but cardiac function was unaffected. Tissue-specific exercise-induced changes in body fat distribution in type 2 diabetes mellitus were demonstrated in this study. © RSNA, 2013

HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy: Impact of Antiretroviral Therapy

In the late 1990s, reports of unusual changes in body fat distribution named 'lipodystrophy' (LD) began to appear in HIV patients mitigating the enormous enthusiasm about improvement of survival and quality of life provided by the combinations of antiretroviral (ARV) drug classes, the so-called highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), which had just become available at that time. The objective of this paper is to critically review the literature on LD and to discuss the impact of newer ARV agents, namely atazanavir, darunavir and raltegravir, as well as strategies of the late HAART era, including single-tablet regimens and nucleoside-sparing regimens. Studies in which LD was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry or by abdominal computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scan only, were included. We were unable to identify studies depicting a negative impact of drugs or ARV regimens on limb fat loss. On the contrary, a few studies identified a negative impact of atazanavir/ritonavir or darunavir/ritonavir on trunk fat increase. It should be noted that this anthropometric measure is a poor instrument since it cannot distinguish between subcutaneous and visceral fat. We conclude that presumably the body fat changes currently observed in HIV-infected patients is the net result of competing phenomena: on one side the natural history of lipohypertrophy as a result of HIV and HAART impact, and on the other side the physiological body fat changes observed in the aging population.

Switching to darunavir/ritonavir monotherapy vs. triple-therapy on body fat redistribution and bone mass in HIV-infected adults: the Monarch randomized controlled trial

Changes in body fat distribution and bone mass in HIV-infected patients may be associated with long-term use of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). The Monarch trial recruited 30 patients receiving non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor or protease inhibitor-based highly active antiretroviral therapy, with HIV RNA <40 copies/mL. Patients were randomized to either darunavir/ritonavir 800/100 mg once daily monotherapy or darunavir/ritonavir 800/100 mg once daily + two NRTIs. Bone mass, peripheral lipoatrophy and central fat accumulation were assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scanning, supplemented by computed tomography scans. Median age was 43 years, 77% were men. Visceral adipose tissue remained stable from baseline to Week 48 in the whole group (p = 0.261) with no significant difference between arms (p = 0.56). There was a significant reduction in insulin resistance (HOMA-IR, p = 0.013) over 48 weeks in the whole group, but not of body mass index (p = 0.24). In the darunavir/ritonavir monotherapy arm, there was a small but significant increase in both lumbar and femur bone mineral density at 48 weeks and was observed after correction for baseline values. The absolute change in lumbar bone mineral density at 48 weeks was more pronounced in the darunavir/ritonavir arm compared with the darunavir/ritonavir + 2NRTIs arm. In this study, discontinuing nucleoside analogues and switching to darunavir/ritonavir monotherapy was associated with a small but statistically significant increase in bone mineral density, but stable levels of limb fat and visceral adipose tissue.

Changes in Body Fat Distribution and Fitness Are Associated With Changes in Hemoglobin A1c After 9 Months of Exercise Training

OBJECTIVETo investigate the associations between changes in body composition and fitness after exercise training and changes in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in individuals with type 2 diabetes.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSParticipants (n = 201) were randomized to aerobic, resistance, or combined training for 9 months. HbA1c, waist circumference, total and trunk fat mass, appendicular fat mass, lean body mass, isokinetic leg muscle strength, peak O2 uptake, and estimated METs were assessed at baseline and follow-up. Change in HbA1c was evaluated across quartiles of change in body composition and fitness.RESULTSChange in HbA1c was associated with changes in body weight (r = 0.13, P = 0.052), waist circumference (r = 0.17, P = 0.013), trunk fat mass (r = 0.19, P = 0.005), and estimated METs (r = −0.16, P = 0.023). There was a trend in change in HbA1c across quartiles of waist circumference (P = 0.011), trunk fat mass (P = 0.020), and estimated METs (P = 0.011). Participants with increased estimated METs and reduced trunk fat mass had greater odds of having reduced HbA1c after training (3.48, 1.46–8.31). Finally, participants with increased estimated METs and reduced waist circumference were 2.81 (1.13–6.98) times more likely to have reduced HbA1c and type 2 diabetes medication use than those without improved fitness and central adiposity.CONCLUSIONSIn patients with type 2 diabetes, a reduction in central adiposity and increase in fitness were the most prominent predictors of the change in HbA1c in response to exercise training.

Treatment of HIV-associated facial lipoatrophy: impact on infection progression assessed by viral load and CD4 count

BACKGROUND HIV/AIDS-Associated Lipodystrophy Syndrome includes changes in body fat distribution, with or without metabolic changes. The loss of fat from the face, called facial lipoatrophy, is one of the most stigmatizing signs of the syndrome. OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the effect of FL treatment using polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) implants on disease progression, assessed by viral load and CD4 cell count. METHODS This was a prospective study of 44 patients treated from July 2009 to December 2010. Male and female patients, aged over 18 years, with clinically detectable FL and who had never been treated were included in the study. PMMA implantation was done to fill atrophic areas. Laboratory tests were conducted to measure viral load and CD4 count before and after treatment. RESULTS Of the 44 patients, 72.72% were male and 27.27% female, mean age of 44.38 years. Before treatment, 82% of patients had undetectable viral load, which increased to 88.6% after treatment, but without statistical significance (p = 0.67). CD4 count before treatment ranged from 209 to 1293, averaging 493.97. After treatment, the average increased to 548.61. The increase in CD4 count after treatment was statistically significant with p = 0.02. CONCLUSION The treatment of FL with PMMA implants showed a statistically significant increase in CD4 count after treatment, revealing the impact of FL treatment on disease progression. Viral load before and after treatment did not vary significantly.

Abstract 394: Metabolic Insights into Age and Gender: A New Algorithm for Regional Body Mass Distribution

Metabolic syndrome (MetS), a disorder of energy metabolism associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), comprises a cluster of risk factors—low HDL-C, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperglycemia and central (abdominal) obesity. Although other investigators noted that non central fat loss, especially femoral gluteal depots, are associated with CVD, the association was not as strong as that with central obesity. We hypothesized that age- and gender-dependent changes in body fat distribution would uncover an underlying cause of MetS. However, it is impossible to compare fat distribution based on anatomical circumferences (C) and skin folds (SF) because of the confounding effects of body mass index (BMI), which rises in the early decades and declines thereafter. We developed an algorithm that adjusts skin folds and circumference data for BMI to obtain a BMI-corrected adiposity index (BAI = C/BMI) for each depot. For comparison over time, we normalized the data set to the value in the third decade of life (BAI 3 = 100) and calculated a normalized BAI. as BAI N = [BAI D /BAI 3 ] X 100. Application of this algorithm to the NHANES I data set of C and SF values, reveals BMI-independent changes in body fat distribution as a function of gender and age, with the most profound changes between the second and eighth decades of life occurring in waist C, which increases with time and buttock C, which decreases over the same time interval. In men the changes begin in the third decade of life. In women, the change does not occur until the beginning of the fifth decade of life, which is approximately the perimenopausal period. We propose a mechanistic model in which the underlying defect in MetS, is impaired fat storage in non-central depots, which results in the transfer of non-esterified fatty acids to skeletal muscle thereby impairing glucose disposal, to liver where it drives VLDL-TG synthesis and secretion, and to central fat depots giving the MetS waistline. The defect is not known but could be tissue-specific apoptosis or insulin resistance. If valid, this model would suggest that therapies that enhanced adipogenesis and/or insulin sensitivity in non-central depots could prevent or delay the onset of MetS.

Changes in body mass index and subcutaneous fat among 11-year-old children in Zagreb (Croatia), 1982-2006

The main purpose of this study was to describe secular trends in body mass index and subcutaneous fat among 11-year-old children in Zagreb (Croatia) between 1982 and 2006. The sample consisted of 52 participants in 1982 (23 boys and 29 girls) and 89 participants in 2006 (37 boys and 53 girls). Height, weight and triceps, calf, suprailiac and subscapular skinfolds were measured and body mass index and central to peripheral skinfold ratio were calculated. During the study period, body mass index increased by a mean of 0.7 kg/m2 in boys and 1.4 kg/m2 in girls (p=0.03), while the mean increase in the sum of skinfolds amounted to 8.4 mm in boys and 5.8 mm in girls (p=0.02). At the same time, no change in body fat distribution was noted (p=0.48). The proportion of overweight children increased in girls (from 4% to 27%; p=0.03), but did not change in boys (from 14 to 19%; p=0.58). In conclusion, disturbing secular trends in adiposity of 11-year-old children were noted in this study. Intervention strategies for the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity are warranted in order to reverse such trends.

Changes in body fat distribution through menopause increase blood pressure independently of total body fat in middle-aged women: the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2010

Blood pressure in women increases sharply in middle age, especially after menopause. As the menopausal transition is known to induce changes in body fat distribution, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of body fat distribution as compared with the effect of total body fat on blood pressure through the menopausal transition. We analyzed 1422 subjects aged 45-55 years using the database from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2010. The waist circumference (WC) of post-menopausal women was larger than that of pre-menopausal women (80.44 cm, 95% confidence interval (CI) 79.36-81.52 vs. 78.94 cm, 95% CI 78.27-79.61, P=0.013), but there was no statistically significant difference in body mass index (BMI). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) were significantly higher in post-menopausal women than in pre-menopausal women: SBP was 118.33 mm Hg, 95% CI 116.52-120.15 vs. 115.22 mm Hg, 95% CI 114.17-116.28 (P=0.003) and DBP was 76.94 mm Hg, 95% CI 75.88-77.99 vs. 75.25 mm Hg, 95% CI 74.57-75.93 (P=0.009). BMI and WC were positively correlated with BP. After adjustment for BMI, the correlation of WC with SBP remained significant (β=0.250, 95% CI 0.024-0.476, P=0.030). In a stratified analysis, WC correlated with SBP in women with BMI<25 kg m(-2) (β=0.358, 95% CI 0.138-0.579, P=0.001), but not in women with BMI25 kg m(-2). We conclude that the changes in body fat distribution through the menopausal transition are associated with SBP, independent of total body fat. This finding indicates that alterations in the localization of body fat are another cause of menopause-related changes in BP.

Association of waist circumference, body mass index and conicity index with cardiovascular risk factors in postmenopausal women : cardiovascular topic

In menopause, changes in body fat distribution lead to increasing risk of cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the association of adiposity using the conicity index (CI), body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) with cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia). The sample of this cross-sectional study was collected from June to October 2010 and 165 consecutive menopausal women who had attended the Health and Treatment Centre and Endocrine Research Centre of Firoozgar Hospital in Tehran, Iran were assessed. Age, weight, height, WC, waist-hip ratio (WHR), CI and fat mass were measured. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), fasting blood glucose, insulin, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and total cholesterol (TC) levels were also determined. All statistical analyses were performed by SPSS version 17 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA). Results showed that BMI was positively and significantly associated with SBP (r = 0.21; p = 0.009). WC was positively and significantly correlated with SBP (r = 0.26; p = 0.02) and DBP (r = 0.16; p = 0.05). WHR was also significantly and positively associated with SBP (r = 0.29; p = 0.001). Age and WC were associated with CI quartiles at the 0.05 significance level. The correlation of CI quartiles with SBP and weight were at the 0.01 significance level. We showed a significant association of WC with SBP and DBP, and that BMI could be an important determining factor of SBP. For assessing the association between CI and cardiovascular risk factors, future studies with larger sample sizes are recommended.

Body composition changes after switching from protease inhibitors to raltegravir

To compare 48-week changes in body fat distribution and bone mineral density (BMD) between patients switching from a ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor (PI/r) to raltegravir (RAL) and patients continuing with PI/r. Substudy of the prospective, randomized, open-label, multicenter SPIRAL study. Patients were randomized (1 : 1) to continue with the PI/r-based regimen or switch to RAL, maintaining the rest of the treatment unchanged. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and computed tomography scans were performed at baseline and after 48 weeks to measure body fat and bone composition, analyzing intragroup and intergroup differences. Eighty-six patients were included and 74 patients (39 RAL, 35 PI/r) completed the substudy. Significant increases in median [interquartile range (IQR)] visceral adipose tissue (VAT) [20.7 (-2.4 to 45.6) cm(2), P = 0.002] and total adipose tissue (TAT) [21.4 (-1.3 to 55.4) cm(2), P = 0.013] were seen within the PI/r group. No significant changes in body fat were seen with RAL or between treatment groups. Regarding bone composition, total BMD [0.01 (0 to 0.02) g/cm(2), P = 0.002], total hip BMD [0.01 (0 to 0.03) g/cm(2), P = 0.015] and total hip T score [0.12 (-0.05 to 0.21) SD, P = 0.004] significantly increased with RAL, with no significant changes within the PI/r group. Differences between treatment groups were significant in femoral neck BMD [0.01 (-0.02 to 0.02) g/cm(2), P = 0.032] and T score [0.01 (-0.18 to 0.18) SD, P = 0.016]. Although there were no significant changes in body fat between groups, maintaining a PI/r-based regimen was associated with a significant increase in VAT and TAT. Switching to RAL led to a significant increase in femoral neck BMD when comparing between groups.