Differences In Fat Distribution Research Articles

Lean Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) women have normal bone mineral density but regional differences in fat distribution

Lean Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) women have normal bone mineral density but regional differences in fat distribution

Breed and sex differences in fat distribution and mobilization in growing pigs fed at maintenance

To study breed and sex differences in fat distribution and fat mobilization in growing pigs during maintenance feeding, pigs of Norwegian Landrace and Duroc of Canadian origin were compared. A total of 92 animals were fed to maintain constant body weight of around 58 kg over an eight weeks period of maintenance feeding. Computed tomography was used for measuring body composition at weeks zero, four and eight. Landrace pigs contained more internal fat (2.58 versus 2.20 kg) and less inter/intramuscular fat (1.90 versus 2.26 kg) at start of the maintenance feeding period than the Duroc pigs (p < 0.01). Castrates contained more inter/intramuscular fat (2.15 versus 2.01 kg) and less subcutaneous fat (5.30 versus 5.58 kg) than gilts (p < 0.01). Fat was mobilized as feed was restricted to maintenance level. A greater proportion of fat from subcutaneous and inter/intramuscular fat depots was mobilized compared to internal fat in both breeds and sexes p < 0.001). Correlations between subcutaneous and inter/intramuscular fat were higher (0.61–0.90) than those between these depots and internal fat depots (0.26–0.70). Reasons for breed and sex differences in fat distribution, and differences in availability between the fat depots during the maintenance period are discussed.

Fat distribution in sheep selected for/against backfat depth, during growth on ad libitum feeding

Coopworth sheep from the high and low backfat selection lines and from one random bred line developed at Invermay, New Zealand, were used to study the respective differences in fat distribution during normal growth. The animals were fed ad libitum and compositional data were obtained in vivo using a whole body CAT scanner, scanning the animals at 6–7 week intervals. The experiment started when the animals were 9 weeks old, with the first CAT scanning taking place 3 weeks later, and was terminated when they were about 30 weeks old, due to copper poisoning. Growth coefficients for fat areas and subcutaneous fat depths were higher than for live weight but did not interact with sex nor with line. Females had larger fat areas and fat depths than males. Fat animals had significantly larger fat areas than control and lean animals, but little difference was observed between control and lean animals. A similar situation was observed in terms of subcutaneous fat depths, indicating that differences in total fat were essentially associated with differences in the proportion of subcutaneous fat.

Abdominal Fat Distribution and Insulin Levels Only Partially Explain Adverse Cardiovascular Risk Profile in Asian Indians

Asian Indians show an increased risk of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and coronary heart disease, together with adverse fat distribution and hyperinsulinaemia relative to other ethnic groups. Using population-based data, we investigated the question of whether the adverse fat distribution observed in Indians can be explained by differences in behavioural risk factor levels. We have examined the question of whether ethnic differences in fat distribution are responsible for the unfavourable risk factor profile of Indians. Fat distribution (waist: hip ratio) was compared in population-based samples of Asian Indian (n = 4394), Creole (n = 1746), and Chinese (n = 425) Mauritians, after controlling for body mass index and other factors. The contribution of this ratio to ethnic differences in cardiovascular disease risk factors and the role of fasting insulin concentrations were also determined. Indian men had the highest mean waist: hip ratio, despite having the lowest body mass index. In Indian women the mean waist: hip ratio and body mass index were intermediate between those of Chinese and Creole women. Indians of both sexes had low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and HDL: total cholesterol compared with Creoles or Chinese, whereas triglycerides levels were highest in Indian men but intermediate in Indian women. Mean fasting and 2 h insulin concentrations were not consistently highest in the Indian subgroups. Blood pressure and serum urate levels were lowest in Indians of both sexes and Indian women also had lower total cholesterol concentrations than either Creoles or Chinese. The elevated waist: hip ratio in Indians was not explained by differences in physical activity, cigarette smoking, or alcohol consumption and the differences in this ratio (and insulin levels) did not explain the observed ethnic differences in metabolic parameters. The susceptibility of Indians to abdominal obesity contributed to the less desirable levels of some, but not all, cardiovascular risk factors. Ethnic differences in cardiovascular risk factors in Mauritians were not explained by differences in abdominal obesity, serum insulin or behavioural risk factors. These data suggest that it is over-simplistic to ascribe the adverse cardiovascular risk factor profile commonly observed in Asian Indians to a tendency to abdominal obesity.

Sex and ethnic group differences in fat distribution in young united kingdom South Asians and Europids

South Asians (Asians) have a high prevalence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM) and a high incidence of ischaemic heart disease (IHD). To investigate whether this predisposition can be detected in young adult life, metabolic risk factors for these diseases were compared in U.K. Europid and Asian students. Among the 80 Europid and 80 Asian students aged between 20 and 23 years and well matched for body mass index (BMI), Asians were found to be relatively hyperglycaemic [5.1 (5.0–5.2) vs 4.6 (95% CI: 4.5–4.7) mmol/l] and hypercholesterolaemic [5.3(5.2–5.4) vs 4.9 (4.8–5.0) mmol/l] and to have a higher waist/hip and subscapular/triceps ratio. The waist/hip ratio was found to be a better predictor of glucose and cholesterol than calliper measurements in both ethnic groups although the subscapular/triceps ratio was independently related to both glucose and cholesterol. Predictors of both IHD and NIDDM are present at an early age in U.K. Asians.

Regional fat distribution and metabolism in a new mouse model ( [formula omitted]) of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

It has been suggested that a genetic predisposition and an increased total fat mass, particularly a specific increase in visceral fat, contribute to the metabolic aberrations associated with human non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). In this study, we investigated the interactions between genetic and dietary components on fat distribution and metabolism in two mouse strains, one genetically predisposed to NIDDM ( BL 6 ) and one not ( A J ), fed either a chow diet or a high-fat, high-simple carbohydrate (HFHSC) diet for 5 months. As expected, both strains of mice fed a HFHSC diet were heavier, had more fat in both the subcutaneous (inguinal [ING]) and visceral (mesenteric [MES]) regions, and had larger fat cells and higher lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activities. The results of interactions between strain and diet showed important differences in fat distribution and metabolism between strains. In comparison with A J mice, BL 6 mice fed a HFHSC diet developed hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and hypercholesterolemia, were heavier, had more overall fat, and particularly increased their MES adipose tissue. This increase in visceral fat mass was due to an increase in fat cell number. In contrast, BL 6 mice fed a chow diet had less overall fat, a smaller MES fat pad with smaller adipocytes, and lower LPL activity than A J controls. Significant differences between BL 6 and A J mice fed either a HFHSC or a chow diet were not observed in ING adipose tissue. These data suggest that in BL 6 mice, changes in the metabolic characteristics of visceral fat seem to be a specific characteristic associated with the genetic predisposition for NIDDM. Since this mouse model appears to develop diet-induced NIDDM in association with an increase in visceral fat, it seems to be a good model for further studies relevant to the human disease.

The Influence of Regional Adiposity on Atherogenic Risk Factors in Men and Women with Type 2 Diabetes

To determine firstly whether body fat distribution could predict the presence of atherogenic risk factors better than overall adiposity in Type 2 diabetes, and secondly whether sex differences in these risk factors could be explained by sex differences in fat distribution, waist-to-hip girth ratio (WHR), serum lipids, lipoproteins, apolipoproteins, plasma lipolytic activity, and blood pressure were assessed in 47 patients with Type 2 diabetes, 21 women matched for age, body mass index (BMI) and blood glucose control with 26 men. The men had higher WHR (0.95 (range 0.83-1.07) vs 0.82 (0.74-0.94), p less than 0.001), lower HDL-cholesterol (1.03 +/- 0.05 vs 1.38 +/- 0.06 mmol l-1, p less than 0.001) and apolipoprotein A1 (1.40 +/- 0.06 vs 1.76 +/- 0.06 gl-1, p less than 0.001) concentrations, and higher hepatic lipase activities (16.2 (6.4-38.0) vs 8.6 (2.3-23.1) mmol h-1 l-1, p less than 0.01). In both men and women, BMI and WHR were positively related to serum triglyceride, insulin and C-peptide concentrations. In women, HDL-cholesterol was negatively related to BMI (r = -0.45, p less than 0.05) but only possibly related to WHR (r = -0.33, NS). In men, by contrast, WHR was related negatively to HDL-cholesterol (r = -0.60, p less than 0.005), HDL2-cholesterol (r = -0.43, p less than 0.05), and apolipoprotein A1 (r = -0.70, p less than 0.001) and positively to hepatic lipase activity (r = 0.65, p less than 0.001), whereas the same relationships with BMI were not significant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Deposition and distribution of carcass fat for steers differing in frame size and muscle thickness.

Yearling feeder steers (n = 324) representing nine frame size (Large, Medium, Small) x muscle thickness (No. 1, No. 2, No. 3) subclasses were serially slaughtered at 28-d intervals during a 140-d finishing period. Weights for total dissectible (TDF) and subcutaneous fat (SQ) from each of nine wholesale cuts were recorded. Resulting data were analyzed using allometry (Y = aXb and Y = aXb10cx) to characterize deposition patterns for fat and to determine effects of feeder cattle frame size (F) and muscle thickness (M) on relative fat deposition and distribution. Patterns of TDF and SQ deposition were similar among cuts. As the steers became fatter, relative proportions of TDF and SQ in the abdominal and dorsal regions of the carcass increased and relative proportions of fat in the distal regions decreased. There was a tendency for the growth impetus of TDF and SQ to shift from the ventral portions of the carcass toward the dorsal region of the carcass as fattening progressed. Despite significant among-class differences in allometric coefficients, relative proportions of TDF and SQ in the nine wholesale cuts were remarkably similar for all nine F x M subclasses when compared at a constant percentage of total carcass fat. At endpoints of either a constant fat thickness measurement or a constant USDA marbling score, subclass differences in fat distribution were negligible.

Altered body fat distribution in patients with glucocorticoid treatment and in patients on long-term dialysis

Fat distribution was assessed by computed tomography in normal volunteers (n = 42), patients on long-term dialysis (n = 18), and patients on glucocorticoids [renal transplant patients (n = 49), other diseases (n = 17)]. Patients on glucocorticoids had higher mediastinal (deep) and identical or increased posterior cervical, buccal, and midthigh (superficial) fat areas when compared with normal subjects. The pattern of fat distribution in dialysis patients mimicked the distribution observed in patients taking glucocorticoids. Healthy females had higher ratios of superficial to deep fat than healthy male subjects. Patients on prednisone or on dialysis lost this sex-associated difference in fat distribution. Since patients on prednisone exhibit increased or normal thigh fat depots in the presence of increased mediastinal fat, the current concept that glucocorticoids induce redistribution of body fat from peripheral to central fat compartments has to be revised. Furthermore, disease states and/or glucocorticoids abrogate sex-associated differences in body fat distribution.

Abnormalities of islet B-cell function, insulin action, and fat distribution in women with histories of gestational diabetes: relationship to obesity.

Although obese women with histories of gestational diabetes mellitus (former GDM) are highly predisposed to develop noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), lean former GDM women are less predisposed. To explore reasons for this difference, we performed measures of islet B-cell function and insulin action in eight lean former GDM women [ideal body weight (IBW), 107 +/- 2% (mean +/- SEM)], 11 obese former GDM (IBW, 161 +/- 11%), and 19 normal women subjects who were individually pair-matched to former GDM for % IBW and age. The first phase (0-10 min) insulin secretory response to iv glucose was significantly lower in both lean and obese former GDM compared to that in normal women (3,480 +/- 548% vs. 8,234 +/- 1,337% basal . min and 3,444 +/- 682 vs. 10,251 +/- 2,465). The second phase (10-60 min) insulin response to glucose was also significantly lower in lean former GDM women and tended to be lower in obese former GDM women compared to that in their respective controls. Insulin action was assessed by the insulin sensitivity index (SI) using Bergman's minimal modeling technique. SI values in lean former GDM women were similar to those in their controls (4.42 +/- 1.3 X 10(-4) ml min-1 microU-1 vs. 5.19 +/- 1.2 X 10(-4). In contrast, SI values in obese former GDM women were significantly lower than those in their controls (0.77 +/- 0.28 X 10(-4) vs. 2.04 +/- 0.43 X 10(-4). To assess whether differences in fat distribution and fat cell size were associated with these differences in insulin sensitivity, the waist to thigh circumference ratio, the waist to hip ratio, and abdominal fat cell diameter were measured. All three were significantly greater in the obese former GDM women than in controls. Thus, an abnormal central distribution of adiposity appears to be associated with the insulin action defect in obese former GDM women. We conclude that both lean and obese former GDM women have insulin secretion defects. Although a modest insulin action defect in lean former GDM women may have been missed by this technique, only in the obese former GDM women, who have a higher risk for future NIDDM, was an insulin action defect demonstrable. Thus, impairments of both insulin secretion and insulin action may be necessary to cause a marked predisposition toward NIDDM.

The Distribution of Body Fat in Aged Japanese

The subjects for this study were 18 male and 16 female volunteers whose ages ranged from 58 to 81 years. All were healthy and without evidence of recent or present disease. Their total body fat (TBF) was estimated from total body water by D2O dilution method and subcutaneous fat (SF) was calculated by measuring skinfold thickness at 12 sites. Internal fat (IF) was determined from TBF and SF. The TBF content varied from 10.3 to 43.0% (average 27.2) of body-weight in the men and from 19.0 to 47.0% (average 35.0) in the women. The proportion of fat situated subcutaneously in the women (51.3%) was higher than men (45.8%), but no significant differences in fat distribution between the both sexes. The regression of TBF on IF was significantly different between the both sexes for a given TBF value, which corresponded to a higher IF value for the men subjects.

The distribution of body fat in relation to habitual activity.

42 young female subjects aged 19-24 years were selected to form 3 groups based on the estimated hours of physical activity taken each week. They represented 1. very active, 2. active, and 3. sedentary people. Their body fat and fat-free mass (FFM) were estimated from densitometry (corrected for the lung residual volume present during total immersion) and the distribution of subcutaneous fat mass (SFM) was examined by measuring skinfold thickness at 11 sites. The regression of body density on log sigma 4 skinfold was significantly different between the 3 groups for a given skinfold value of up to 40 mm, which corresponded to a higher density value for the very active subjects. The possibility that this observation might be explained by differences in the distribution of fat between subcutaneous and internal fat stores was examined, using empirical calculations of SFM. The proportion of fat situated subcutaneously was higher than previously reported (0.65), with a range of individual values (0.41-0.87), but no significant differences in fat distribution between the 3 groups. Group differences in the relationship between body density and log sigma 4 skinfolds might be explained by variation in the composition of the FFM which may result from differing levels of habitual physical activity. The implication of this possibility in estimating total body fat from density measurements are discussed.

Fat distribution in steer carcasses of different breeds and crosses. 1. Distribution between depots

SUMMARYDissection data from 643 carcasses of castrated male cattle (steers) of 15 breed-type × feeding system groups were used to examine the distribution of total fat (TF) between subcutaneous (SF), intermuscular (IF), kidney knob and channel (KKCF) and cod fat depots. The breed-type groups, which were from cereal or grass/cereal feeding systems, included Ayrshire, Simmental × Ayrshire, British Friesian and Friesian crosses with Aberdeen Angus, Hereford, Limousin, Charolais, South Devon and Simmental. Means for percentage TF in side ranged from 21·4 to 36·2 with a pooled within group SD of 3·87.The growth of each depot relative to TF was examined using the allometric equation. Significant but not large differences existed between groups for the growth coefficients of SF and IF while the coefficients for KKCF differed widely among groups. The coefficient for SF was greater than that for IF in every group (pooled within-group b values±SE were 1·20±·02 and 0·87±0·01 respectively).At constant TF weight, carcasses from Ayrshire and Ayrshire crosses tended to contain less SF and more IF+KKC F than those from Friesian and beef breed × Friesian. Important differences in distribution were recorded between the various beef breed × Friesian groups. The proportion of SF was lower for cattle fed on grass/cereal diets than for cattle of the same breed type fed on cereal diets.The differences in fat distribution led to substantial bias for some groups when the percentages of IF and TF in the side were predicted from percentage SF. The bias was less when both KKCF and SF were used as predictors.

The effects of hypophysectomy, adrenalectomy and of thiouracil feeding on the cytology of brown adipose tissue.

The present investigation concerns the relation of the pituitary, adrenal, and thyroid glands to so-called “brown fat.” This tissue was formerly considered to be a gland of internal secretion but is now generally regarded as a form of adipose tissue. Its embryological relationship to ordinary fat is poorly understood and its functional significance is unknown, but its gland-like appearance and unusually rich blood supply suggest that it is metabolically more active than ordinary depot fat (Fawcett, ’48). This belief has been strengthened by biochemical studies which reveal that brown adipose tissue has a more rapid rate of phosphorus turnover (Littrell, Martin and Hartman, ’44) and a much greater oxygen consumption than white fat (Hook and Barron, ’41; Mirski, ’42). A relationship between the endocrine glands and adipose tissue has long been inferred from the marked sex differences in fat distribution in humans and from clinical observations on the association of obesity with certain disorders of the pitu...