Pattern Of Fat Distribution Research Articles

Type 2 Diabetes Is Causally Associated With Reduced Serum Osteocalcin: A Genomewide Association and Mendelian Randomization Study.

Recent advances indicate that bone and energy metabolism are closely related. However, little direct evidence on causality has been provided in humans. We aimed to assess the association of three bone-related biomarkers-25 hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), parathyroid hormone (PTH), and osteocalcin (OCN)-with several metabolic phenotypes and investigate any causal relevance to the associations using a Mendelian randomization (MR) study. Serum 25OHD, PTH, and total OCN were measured at baseline in 5169 eligible Chinese participants in Changfeng study. Partial correlation and bivariate GREML analysis were used to estimate phenotypic and genetic correlations, respectively. Multiple linear regression and logistic regression were used to assess linear associations. Genomewide association analysis (GWAS) was performed. Bidirectional two-sample MR analyses were conducted to examine causal relationships between OCN and body mass index (BMI), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and type 2 diabetes (T2DM), using our GWAS result of OCN and GWAS statistics from Biobank Japan project (BBJ) and the largest meta-analysis of T2DM GWAS in East Asian population. Circulating OCN was significantly associated with higher DBP and HDL-C and decreased TG, blood glucose level, insulin resistance, liver fat content, bone mineral density, BMI, and a favorable body fat distribution pattern. GWAS identified one novel serum PTH locus and two novel serum OCN loci, explaining 0.81% and 1.98% of variances of PTH and OCN levels, respectively. MR analysis suggested a causal effect of T2DM on lower circulating OCN concentration (causal effect: -0.03; -0.05 to -0.01; p=0.006 for T2DM_BBJ and -0.03; -0.05 to -0.01; p=0.001 for T2DM_EAS). These findings indicate that T2DM might impact bone remodeling and provide a resource for understanding complex relationships between osteocalcin and metabolic (and related) traits in humans. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Reference centiles for evaluating total body fat development and fat distribution by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry among children and adolescents aged 3–18 years

The rise in the prevalence of childhood obesity has increased the demand for accurately evaluating body fatness in pediatric population. The aim of this study was to provide a series of sex- and age-specific body fat reference centiles for evaluating total body fat development and fat distribution in Chinese children and adolescents using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). A nationwide sample of Chinese children and adolescents aged 3-18 years (n=12,790) was drawn from a cross-sectional survey of the China Child and Adolescent Cardiovascular Health study (2013-2019). Fat measurements, including total fat mass index (FMI), total body fat percentage (BF%), regional FMI, trunk to leg (T/L) fat ratio and android to gynoid (A/G) fat ratio, were derived from whole body DXA scans. Sex- and age-specific centiles were estimated using the lambda-mu-sigma method and then compared with values derived from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2004) and Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2008-2011). During early childhood, almost all body fat parameters decreased with age, except an increase in A/G ratio. After 7 years onward, drastic upward trends of total FMI and BF% were exhibited in boys till 10 years, followed by opposite downward trends during 11-14 years; while sustained increase of FMI was shown in girls across ages accompanied by relatively constant BF% levels. Meanwhile, steady increases were noticed for A/G ratio and T/L ratio, which were more pronounced in boys. In addition, the proposed body fat references were much lower than the US but similar to Koreans despite of subtle differences. This is the first study to present a set of DXA-based body fat reference for Chinese children and adolescents aged 3-18 years. The new reference provides clinicians and researchers a useful tool for assessing body fat development and distribution patterns throughout early childhood and adolescence.

Association of Menopausal Symptoms with Body Composition Pattern and Body Mass Index Across Menopausal Age Among Mongolian Women

Objectives: To investigate the correlation of body fat distribution pattern and body mass index (BMI) on the prevalence and clinical manifestation of menopausal symptoms across the menopausal stage among Mongolian women. Methods: A survey was conducted amongst a total of 1084 women aged 40-65 years Ulaanbaatar city and selected provinces representing five main remote regions of Mongolia. A questionnaire was used to collect demographic and socioeconomic data. Menopause related characteristics were evaluated using the Menopause-specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) questionnaire. Further, measurements were recorded to determine waist-to-hip-ratio and body mass index (BMI). Pearson's Chi-Square test was used to correlate. Results: Using the waist-to-hip-ratio, 84.4% of participants had the android type, and 15.6% were of the gynoid type. As for BMI, 38.4% were overweight, and 28.8% were obese. In multiple regression analysis, BMI had significant relationships with psychosocial and sexual problems (p<0.05). Moreover, BMI and menopause status were independent risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease. Postmenopausal obese and overweight women were 1.6 times more likely to have cardiovascular disease than women in the perimenopausal status (p<0.05). Conclusions: Overweight and obese perimenopausal women have a lower quality of life due to the prevalence of sexual and psychosocial symptoms. Obese postmenopausal Mongolian women are at significantly higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Age- and BMI-related variations of fat distribution in sacral and lumbar bone marrow and their association with local muscle fat content

This analysis investigated the age- and BMI-related variations of fat distribution in sacral and lumbar bone marrow and their association with local muscle fat content in order to detect fat distribution patterns and variations in healthy adults using proton density fat fraction (PDFF) measurements. A six-echo 3D spoiled gradient-echo sequence was used for chemical shift encoding-based water-fat separation at the sacral and lower lumbar region in 103 healthy volunteers. PDFF values of the sacrum, 5th lumbar vertebral body, the gluteal and paraspinal muscles were determined. Correlation with age was significant (p < 0.05) for PDFF of the sacrum (men (m): r = 0.58; women (w): r = 0.54), L5 (m: r = 0.58; w: r = 0.54), the gluteal (m: r = 0.51; w: r = 0.44) and paraspinal (m: r = 0.36; w: r = 0.49) muscles in both genders. BMI correlated significantly with the paraspinal musculature in men (r = 0.46) and women (r = 0.33). Correlation testing revealed significant correlations (p < 0.05) between the two osseous (m: r = 0.63, w: r = 0.75) and the muscle compartments (m: r = 0.63, w: r = 0.33) in both genders. Bone marrow and muscle fat infiltration patterns were not significantly associated with each other at the sacral and lower lumbar spine region. The presented data suggest that the two compartments may have distinct pathophysiological fat infiltration patterns. However, further clinical studies are needed to support the results.

102-OR: Detection of Diabetes from Whole-Body Magnetic Resonance Imaging Using Deep Learning

Obesity is one of the main drivers of the globally rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Yet, obesity is not uniformly associated with metabolic consequences. The location of fat accumulation is critical for metabolic health. Specific patterns of body fat distribution, such as an increased ratio of visceral to subcutaneous fat, are closely related to insulin resistance which is crucial in the pathogenesis of T2D. There might be further, hitherto unknown features of body fat distribution which could additionally contribute to the disease. We used a machine learning approach with dense convolutional neural networks (DCNN) to detect diabetes related variables from 2371 T1-weighted whole-body magnetic resonance image (MRI) data sets. Each single measurement was labelled by sex, age, BMI, insulin sensitivity, HbA1c and prediabetes or incident diabetes. The result was compared to conventional models using segmented body fat compartment volumes. Anatomical labels were assigned to locations in the DCNN gradient heatmaps that are critical for discrimination. The AUC-ROC was 0.87 for the discrimination of diabetes and 0.68 for prediabetes. Classification performance was superior to conventional models. Mean absolute regression errors were comparable to those of the conventional models. Heatmaps clearly showed that lower visceral abdominal regions were most critical in diabetes classification, while other significant areas comprised upper legs, arms and the neck region.Our results show that diabetes is detectable from whole-body MRI without any blood glucose measurement. Our technique of heatmap visualization unravels plausible anatomical regions and highlights the leading role of fat accumulation in the lower abdomen in the pathogenesis of T2D. Disclosure R. Wagner: Advisory Panel; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. Other Relationship; Self; Eli Lilly and Company. B. Dietz: None. J. Machann: None. P. Schwab: Employee; Self; Roche Pharma. J.K. Dienes: Advisory Panel; Spouse/Partner; Novo Nordisk A/S. Speaker’s Bureau; Spouse/Partner; Novo Nordisk A/S. Other Relationship; Spouse/Partner; Eli Lilly and Company. S. Reichert: Other Relationship; Self; Lilly Diabetes. A.L. Birkenfeld: None. H. Haering: None. F. Schick: None. N. Stefan: None. M. Heni: Research Support; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Sanofi. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. H. Preissl: None. B. Schölkopf: None. S. Bauer: None. A. Fritsche: None. Funding German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (01GI0925)

Serum adiponectin is a potential biomarker for metabolic syndrome in peri-and postmenopausal women

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) increases its prevalence during menopausal period and there is no appropriate marker for screening before the cardiovascular damage begun. This study aims to find the diagnostic accuracy and the appropriate cutoff level of serum adiponectin for the screening of MetS in peri- and postmenopausal women. Women aged at least 40 years old attending health checkup clinic were recruited. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, MENQOL, and blood chemistry (glucose, adiponectin, HDL-C, LDL-C, and TG) were recorded. MetS was defined by JIS 2009 criteria. 290 peri-and postmenopausal women mean age 54.25 ± 8.6 years were recruited. 66% was postmenopause and 21.4% of them has MetS. The socioeconomic and lifestyle factors seem similar among women with and without MetS. In the participants with MetS, the prevalence of abdominal obesity was higher (96.8% vs 49.6%, p < .001, respectively) and more prevalence of android fat distribution pattern was observed (76.2% vs 36%, p < .001, respectively). Serum adiponectin was significantly lower in women with MetS (6.0 ± 4.6 vs 9.2 ± 5.2 μg/mL, p < .001 in MetS and non-MetS, respectively). Serum adiponectin is a good biomarker for MetS and we recommend the cutoff level of serum adiponectin lower than 7.15 μg/mL for screening of MetS (AUC (95% CI) of = 0.72 (0.64–0.79), p < .001).

Association of Dyslipidemia and Obesity in Postmenopausal Bangladeshi Women

Objectives: Menopause is a natural process. After menopause the morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease in women is increased due to lack of oestrogen protection, aging effect, increased body weight, android pattern of body fat distribution, changes in metabolism and lipid profile.1,2 So the present study is aimed at measuring the serum lipid profile and BMI in postmenopausal women of Bangladesh, thus detecting dyslipidemia and obesity to ascertain the relative risk of developing cardiovascular disease in this group.&#x0D; Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Obst and Gynae Department of Green life Medical College Hospital among 150 otherwise healthy postmenopausal women from October 2017 to April 2018. Fasting blood obtained for testing lipid profile. Serum total cholesterol, triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were measured using enzymatic procedures. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentration was estimated by Friedewald formula. Questionnaire-cum interview method was used to obtain relevant informations. BMI was calculated from weight in kg and height in cm by Metric BMI calculator. Dyslipidemia was identified based on serum lipid levels following the standard protocol proposed by the national guidelines.&#x0D; Result: A total of 150 participants aged between 43 years to 70 years, were included in this study. Average age of the study subjects were 53.53±3.2 years. A mean duration of menopause was 7.23±0.92 years. The range BMI level was 19.1 to 36.6. Among them BMI &lt;24.9 , was found in 28.30% of women, BMI 25 to 29.9 was found in 49.5 % women and 22.23 % women had BMI of &gt;30. According to standard guideline BMI &lt;24.9 is considered normal, 25-29.9 is overweight and BMI more than 30 is obese. In this study among normal BMI group 59.4% had normal lipid profile and 29.7% had isolated hypertriglyceridemia and mixed dyslipidemia in 10.9% patients. In the group with BMI 25 to 29.9 (overweight) normal lipid level was in 52.3% women, isolated hypertriglyceridemia found in 17.6% women and dyslipidaemia was in 30.1% women. In the group with BMI &gt;30 (obese) normal lipid level was in 5.8% of the women, isolated hypertriglyceridemia found in 29.4% women and dyslipidaemia was in 64.8% women. HDL-C level was low in 83.3% women of &gt;30 BMI group and normal in 66.67% women of normal BMI group.&#x0D; Conclusion: The prevalence of dyslipidemia, based primarily on the high cholesterol level and high LDL was observed among the overweight and obese group of study population. Therefore, it can be concluded that menopause leads to changes in lipid profile by increasing total and LDL cholesterol and by reducing HDL cholesterol which indicates menopause may be an additional risk factor for dyslipidemia causing cardiovascular disease in Bangladeshi women.&#x0D; Bangladesh J Obstet Gynaecol, 2020; Vol. 35(1): 20-24

Constitutionally High Serotonin Tone Favors Obesity: Study on Rat Sublines With Altered Serotonin Homeostasis.

Central and peripheral pools of biogenic monoamine serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5HT]) exert opposite effects on the body weight regulation: increase in brain 5HT activity is expected to decrease body weight, whereas increase in peripheral 5HT activity will increase body weight and adiposity. In a genetic model of rats with constitutionally high- or low-5HT homeostasis (hyperserotonergic/hyposerotonergic rats), we have studied how individual differences in endogenous 5HT tone modulate net energy balance of the organism. The high-5HT and low-5HT sublines of the model were developed by selective breeding toward extreme platelet activities of 5HT transporter, a key molecule determining 5HT bioavailability/activity. In animals from high-5HT and low-5HT sublines, we assessed physiological characteristics associated with body weight homeostasis and expression profile of a large scale of body weight–regulating genes in hypothalamus, a major brain region controlling energy balance. Results showed that under standard chow diet animals from the high-5HT subline, as compared to low-5HT animals, have lifelong increased body weight (by 12%), higher absolute daily food intake (by 9%), and different pattern of fat distribution (larger amount of white adipose tissue and lower amount of brown adipose tissue). A large number of body weight–regulating hypothalamic genes were analyzed for their mRNA expression: 24 genes by reverse transcription–quantitative polymerase chain reaction (n = 9–10 rats/subline) including neuropeptides and their receptors, growth factors, transcriptional factors, and receptors for peripheral signals, and a total of 84 genes of various classes by polymerase chain reaction array (pools of six rats/subline). Only few genes showed significant differences in mRNA expression levels between 5HT sublines (e.g. neuropeptide Y receptor, fibroblast growth factor 10), but high-5HT animals displayed a clear trend to upregulation of mRNAs for a number of orexigenic signaling peptides, their receptors, and other molecules with orexigenic activity. Receptors for peripheral signals (leptin, insulin) and molecules in their downstream signaling were not altered, indicating no changes in central insulin/leptin resistance. At the protein level, there were no differences in the content of hypothalamic leptin receptor between 5HT sublines, but significant sex and age effects were observed. Results show that higher constitutive/individual 5HT tone favors higher body weight and adiposity probably due to concurrent upregulation of several hypothalamic orexigenic pathways.

Modelling the Impact of Chronic Cigarette Smoke Exposure in Obese Mice: Metabolic, Pulmonary, Intestinal, and Cardiac Issues.

Unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as bad eating behaviors and cigarette smoking, have major detrimental impacts on health. However, the inter-relations between obesity and smoking are still not fully understood. We thus developed an experimental model of high-fat diet-fed obese C57BL/6 male mice chronically exposed to cigarette smoke. Our study evaluated for the first time the resulting effects of the combined exposure to unhealthy diet and cigarette smoke on several metabolic, pulmonary, intestinal, and cardiac parameters. We showed that the chronic exposure to cigarette smoke modified the pattern of body fat distribution in favor of the visceral depots in obese mice, impaired the respiratory function, triggered pulmonary inflammation and emphysema, and was associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis, cardiac hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis.

Race affects the association of obesity measures with insulin sensitivity

Race differences in body composition and fat distribution may in part explain the differences in insulin sensitivity and the disproportionate burden of type 2 diabetes in African Americans. To determine if differences in body composition and fat distribution explain race differences in insulin sensitivity and identify obesity measures that were independently associated with insulin sensitivity. Participants were 113 lean, overweight, and obese African-American and Caucasian-American adults without diabetes. Skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity was determined using a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp (SIClamp, insulin rate:120 mU/m2/min). Subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (SAAT), intra-abdominal adipose tissue (IAAT), and liver fat were measured by MRI; leg fat, total fat, and lean mass were measured by DXA. Race-by-adiposity interactions were significant in cross-sectional analyses utilizing multiple linear regression models for SIClamp (P<0.05); higher BMI, fat mass, SAAT, leg fat, and liver fat were associated with lower SIClamp in Caucasian Americans but not African Americans. Race-by-IAAT interaction was not significant (P=0.65). A central fat distribution (SAAT adjusted for leg fat) was associated with lower SIClamp in African Americans (β = -0.45, SE=0.11, P<0.001) but not Caucasian Americans (β = -0.42, SE=0.30, P=0.17). A peripheral fat distribution (leg fat adjusted for IAAT/SAAT) was associated with a higher SIClamp in African Americans (β = 0.11, SE=0.05, P=0.02) but lower SIClamp in Caucasian Americans (β = -0.28, SE=0.14, P=0.049). Lean mass was inversely associated with SIClamp in African Americans (β = -0.05, SE=0.03, P=0.04) but not Caucasian Americans (β = 0.08, SE=0.05, P=0.10) in the model for leg fat. Measures of overall adiposity were more strongly associated with SIClamp in Caucasian Americans, whereas body fat distribution and lean mass showed stronger correlations with SIClamp in African Americans. Insulin sensitivity may have a genetic basis in African Americans that is reflected in the pattern of body fat distribution. These findings suggest a race-specific pathophysiology of insulin resistance, which has implications for the prevention of diabetes and related cardiometabolic diseases.

Age- and gender-related variations of cervical muscle composition using chemical shift encoding-based water-fat MRI

PurposeTo understand fat distribution patterns and ectopic fat deposition in healthy adults and to provide normative data, encompassing the borders of physiological regional muscle composition. For this purpose chemical shift encoding-based water-fat Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was used for proton density fat fraction (PDFF) calculations. Material and methods91 volunteers were enrolled (male: n = 28, age = 36.6 ± 11.4 years; female: n = 63, age = 38.5 ± 15.1 years). PDFF values combined for the multifidus, semispinalis and spinalis cervicis muscles at the level of the 3rd cervical vertebral body (C3), the 5th cervical vertebral body (C5) and the first thoracic vertebral body (Th1) were extracted. ResultsThe paraspinal musculature at C3 (14.8 ± 10.1 % vs. 19.2 ± 11.0 %; p = 0.029) and Th1 (13.8 ± 7.0 % vs 17.7 ± 7.4 %; p = 0.011) showed significantly lower PDFF values in men compared to women. Partial correlation testing with BMI as control variable revealed highly significant correlations between the paraspinal musculature PDFF at C3 (men: r = 0.504, p = 0.007; women: r = 0.279, p = 0.028), C5 (men: r = 0.450, p = 0.019; women: r = 0.347, p = 0.006) and Th1 (men: r = 0.652, p < 0.0001; women: r = 0.443, p < 0.0001) with age in both genders. ConclusionThe present data suggest gender and age-specific fat deposition patterns of the cervical and the upper cervicothoracic paraspinal muscles and may provide reference values for pathology detection.

Computed tomography-based evaluation of segmental variation of liver density and its implications.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a major health concern. Focal fat deposition frequently seems to involve segment IV b. This indicates a consistent pattern of fat deposition in the liver. The present study evaluates the pattern of fat distribution in the liver using computed tomogram (CT) attenuation index. Two radiologists evaluated 517 non-contrast CT scan imagesof theabdomen and pelvis. Two 40-mm2 regions of interest (ROIs) were selected from each segment. The hepatic segmental densities (HSDs) were obtained by calculating the mean densities of areas of corresponding liver segments. The mean hepatic attenuation (MHA) was quantified by obtaining the mean segmental densities. Densities were compared between the segments and with the MHA. The mean age (SD) of the patientswas 55.5year (15.6), and 276 (53.4%) were males. The overall mean hepatic density was 53.05 (95% CI, 52.95-53.15) Hounsfield units (HU). The lowest mean HSD was observed in segment IV b and the highest mean HSD was observed in segment V. Segments I, IV a and IV b showed significantly lower mean HSDs and segments V, VI and VIII showed significantly higher mean HSDs compared with the overall mean MHA/mean hepatic density(MHD), whereas mean HSDs of segments II, III and VII were not significantly different from the overall mean MHA/MHD. Segment IV b seems to be the most vulnerable site for fat deposition; focal lesions here should be carefully evaluated. Segments II, III and VII seem to closely represent MHD.

Association of thigh and paraspinal muscle composition in young adults using chemical shift encoding-based water-fat MRI.

Paraspinal and thigh muscles comprise the major muscle groups of the body. We investigated the composition of the psoas, erector spinae, quadriceps femoris and hamstring muscle groups and their association to each other using chemical shift encoding-based water-fat magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in adult volunteers. Our aim was to elucidate fat distribution patterns within these muscle groups. Thirty volunteers [15 males, age: 30.5±4.9 years, body mass index (BMI): 27.6±2.8 kg/m2 and 15 females, age: 29.9±7.0 years, BMI: 25.8±1.4 kg/m2] were recruited for this study. A six-echo 3D spoiled gradient echo sequence was used for chemical shift encoding-based water-fat separation at the lumbar spine and bilateral thigh. Proton density fat fraction (PDFF), cross-sectional area (CSA) and contractile mass index (CMI) of the psoas, erector spinae, quadriceps femoris and hamstring muscle groups were determined bilaterally and averaged over both sides. CSA and CMI values calculated for the erector spinae, psoas, quadriceps and hamstring muscle groups showed significant differences between men and women (P<0.05). With regard to PDFF measurement only the erector spinae showed significant differences between men and women (9.5%±2.4% vs. 11.7%±2.8%, P=0.015). The CMI of the psoas muscle as well as the erector spinae muscle showed significant correlations with the quadriceps muscle (r=0.691, P<0.0001 and r=0.761, P<0.0001) and the hamstring group (r=0.588, P=0.001 and r=0.603, P<0.0001). CMI values of the erector spinae and psoas muscles were associated with those of the quadriceps femoris and hamstring musculature. These findings suggest a concordant spatial fat accumulation within the analyzed muscles in young adults and warrants further investigations in ageing and diseased muscle.

Association between thoracic fat measured using computed tomography and lung function in a population without respiratory diseases.

Local fat distribution patterns and their local or systemic effects have recently attracted significant attention. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of thoracic adiposity on lung function in a population without respiratory diseases according to sex. A total of 455 subjects (282 males and 173 females), who had undergone spirometry, and chest and abdominal computed tomography between June 2012 and June 2016 at medical healthcare center, were included. Pericardial fat, intrathoracic fat, subcutaneous thoracic fat, and both visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat were measured by directly assessing tissue volume using computed tomography. Multiple linear regression analyses adjusted for pack-years of smoking, high-density lipoprotein, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were performed to evaluate the association between fat volumes and lung function. In males, intrathoracic fat and visceral abdominal fat were inversely associated with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) % predicted (P=0.025, P=0.010, respectively), and subcutaneous thoracic fat volumes showed a negative correlation with both FEV1% and forced vital capacity (FVC) % predicted (P=0.019, P=0.045, respectively). In females, subcutaneous thoracic fat demonstrated a negative correlation with both FEV1% and FVC % predicted (P=0.031 and P=0.008, respectively). The influence of local thoracic fat distribution on lung function differed according to sex. Visceral fat and subcutaneous thoracic fat in males and subcutaneous fat in females were significantly associated with decreased lung function.

Android Fat Deposition and Its Association With Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Overweight Young Males.

ObjectiveExcess adiposity increases the risk of type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease development. Beyond the simple level of adiposity, the pattern of fat distribution may influence these risks. We sought to examine if higher android fat distribution was associated with different hemodynamic, metabolic or vascular profile compared to a lower accumulation of android fat deposits in young overweight males.MethodsForty-six participants underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and were stratified into two groups. Group 1: low level of android fat (<9.5%) and group 2: high level of android fat (>9.5%). Assessments comprised measures of plasma lipid and glucose profile, blood pressure, endothelial function [reactive hyperemia index (RHI)] and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA).ResultsThere were no differences in weight, BMI, total body fat and lean mass between the two groups. Glucose tolerance and insulin resistance (fasting plasma insulin) were impaired in group 2 (p < 0.05). Levels of plasma triglycerides and 5 lipid species were higher in group 2 (p < 0.05). Endothelial function was less in group 2 (RHI: 1.64 vs. 2.26, p = 0.003) and heart rate was higher (76 vs. 67 bpm, p = 0.004). No difference occurred in MSNA nor blood pressure between the 2 groups.ConclusionPreferential fat accumulation in the android compartment is associated with increased cardiovascular and metabolic risk via alteration of endothelial function.

Second to fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) in women with carpal tunnel syndrome

BackgroundCarpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), a median nerve compressive neuropathy at the wrist, is the most common entrapment nerve disorder. Sex is an important risk factor of CTS as this condition is to five times more common in women than in men (sex-hormone dependent). There are no studies concerning 2D:4D (biomarker of prenatal sex steroids exposure) in patients with CTS. AimHere we consider the relationship between 2D:4D and CTS in women. Study design and methodsThe study involved 90 female participants (40 with a severe CTS (the mean age - 52.78 yrs., SD 11.44) and 50 control women (the mean age - 47.2 yrs., SD 8.23)). Anthropometric measurements were performed and the following indices were calculated: BMI, WHR and right and left 2D:4D. ResultsA stepwise logistic regression model showed that higher WHR and lower right 2D:4D increase the risk of CTS in women (AUC = 0.8865). ConclusionsThese associations may suggest a role for prenatal and post-natal sex-hormones in CTS development, i.e. in the context of oestrogen receptor activation (number and/or sensitivity) and the pattern of fat distribution. Further studies examining the role of hormonal influence in this disorder may help to plan prophylaxis of CTS (e.g. early HRT).

Altered In Vivo Lipid Fluxes and Cell Dynamics in Subcutaneous Adipose Tissues Are Associated With the Unfavorable Pattern of Fat Distribution in Obese Adolescent Girls.

Patterns of abdominal fat distribution (for example, a high vs. low visceral adipose tissue [VAT]/[VAT + subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT)] ratio), independent of obesity, during adolescence carry a high risk for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Longitudinal follow-up of a cohort of obese adolescents has recently revealed that a high ratio (high VAT/[VAT + SAT]) is a major determinant of fatty liver and metabolic impairment over time, with these effects being more pronounced in girls than in boys. To unravel the underlying metabolic alterations associated with the unfavorable VAT/(VAT + SAT) phenotype, we used the 2H2O labeling method to measure the turnover of adipose lipids and cells in the subcutaneous abdominal and gluteal/femoral adipose tissue (SAT) of weight-stable obese adolescent girls with a similar level of obesity but discordant VAT/(VAT + SAT) ratios. Girls with the unfavorable (high VAT/[VAT + SAT]) phenotype exhibited higher in vivo rates of triglyceride (TG) turnover (representing both lipolysis and synthesis at steady state), without significant differences in de novo lipogenesis in both abdominal and gluteal depots, compared with obese girls with the favorable phenotype. Moreover, mature adipocytes had higher turnover, with no difference in stromal vascular cell proliferation in both depots in the metabolically unfavorable phenotype. The higher TG turnover rates were significantly correlated with higher intrahepatic fat stores. These findings are contrary to the hypothesis that impaired capacity to deposit TGs or proliferation of new mature adipocytes are potential mechanisms for ectopic fat distribution in this setting. In summary, these results suggest that increased turnover of TGs (lipolysis) and of mature adipocytes in both abdominal and gluteal SAT may contribute to metabolic impairment and the development of fatty liver, even at this very early stage of disease.

Untangling the relationship between fat distribution, nutritional status and Parkinson\u2019s disease severity

BackgroundParkinson’s disease (PD) is responsible for significant changes in body composition.AimsWe aimed to test the association between PD severity and fat distribution patterns, and to investigate the potential modifier effect of nutritional status in this association.MethodsWe enrolled 195 PD subjects consecutively admitted to a university geriatric day hospital. All participants underwent comprehensive clinical evaluation, including assessment of total and regional body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, DXA), body mass index, nutritional status (Mini-Nutritional Assessment, MNA), motor disease severity (UPDRS III), comorbidities, and pharmacotherapy.ResultsThe fully adjusted linear regression model showed a negative association between UPDRS III and total body fat in kg and percentage (respectively, B − 0.79; 95% CI − 1.54 to − 0.05 and B − 0.55; 95% CI − 1.04 to − 0.05), percentage android fat (B − 1.07; 95% CI − 1.75 to − 0.39), trunk–leg fat ratio (B − 0.02; 95% CI − 0.04 to − 0.01), trunk–limb fat ratio (B − 0.01; 95% CI − 0.06 to − 0.01) and android–gynoid fat ratio (B − 0.01; 95% CI − 0.03 to − 0.01). After stratification by MNA score, all the parameters of android-like fat distribution resulted negatively associated (p < 0.001 for all) with UPDRS III, but only among subjects with a MNA < 23.5 (risk of malnutrition or malnutrition).ConclusionWe found a negative association between severity of motor impairment and total fat mass in PD, more specific with respect to an android pattern of fat distribution. This association seems to be driven by nutritional status, and is significant only among patients at risk of malnutrition or with overt malnutrition.

Vitamin D and Obesity in Adult Populations in Egypt: The Vitamin Inadequacy in Association with Visceral Fat Distribution

Background: Both obesity and vitamin D inadequacy are closely related; yet the relationship between body fat (BF) distribution pattern and vitamin D concentration needs further scrutiny.

Age and sex variation in visceral adipose tissue

Background: Adipose tissue mainly visceral fat is said to be harmful and acts as a harbinger of metabolic disorders. A changing trend is seen in the recent decades with decreasing incidence of metabolic disorders in men even though visceral fat is said to be higher in them. Sex hormones may influence the deposition pattern of adipose tissue. The aim of this study was to observe effects of age on visceral fat and to know if the difference in gender pattern of fat distribution is maintained throughout life or disappears after menopause.Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in Thrissur on 385 apparently healthy subjects using Omron body composition analyser. Data was analysed using SPSS 20.0 version. The tests employed were NOVA, independent samples t-test.Results: In each age group, men had significantly higher visceral fat than females. As age increased, visceral fat increased significantly in both genders. In each group, except for younger age groups, VF levels were equal in men and women.Conclusions: Visceral fat is higher in men and this difference is seen in all age groups. As age increases, visceral fat levels also increased in men and women. The distribution of visceral fat is such that a greater number of men have high to very high levels at a younger age group, a feature observed in women only in the peri and post-menopausal age. Adoption of an active lifestyle coupled with healthy diet should protect against onset of metabolic disorders.