Fat Distribution Variables Research Articles

Micro-CT Analysis of Fat in the Killifish Nothobranchius furzeri.

Aging is associated with an increase in body fat mass and a concomitant decrease in lean mass and bone density in mammals. Body adiposity can also be redistributed with age, resulting in abdominal fat accumulation and subcutaneous fat reduction. In addition, specific variation in fat distribution is considered to be a risk factor for a number of age-related metabolic disorders. Micro computed tomography (micro-CT) is a nondestructive high-resolution imaging method that uses planar X-ray images captured at various angles around a sample of interest to yield a three-dimensional array of radiodensity values, which can then be used to computationally extract the adipose volume in situ using its innate contrast properties. This method was successfully used to study adipose tissue dynamics in rodents and more recently in zebrafish. The naturally short-lived African turquoise killifish is an emerging model organism to study the biology of aging. Like mammals, killifish also have different fat deposits (visceral and subcutaneous), making them a suitable model to study age-related changes in fat mass and distribution. However, procedures allowing precise quantification of fat content and distribution are missing in this species. Here, we provide an optimized protocol to measure and quantify fat distribution in turquoise killifish by micro-CT scan analysis and show the applicability of the method in young and old animals of both sexes.

Silhouette images enable estimation of body fat distribution and associated cardiometabolic risk

Inter-individual variation in fat distribution is increasingly recognized as clinically important but is not routinely assessed in clinical practice, in part because medical imaging has not been practical to deploy at scale for this task. Here, we report a deep learning model trained on an individual’s body shape outline—or “silhouette” —that enables accurate estimation of specific fat depots of interest, including visceral (VAT), abdominal subcutaneous (ASAT), and gluteofemoral (GFAT) adipose tissue volumes, and VAT/ASAT ratio. Two-dimensional coronal and sagittal silhouettes are constructed from whole-body magnetic resonance images in 40,032 participants of the UK Biobank and used as inputs for a convolutional neural network to predict each of these quantities. Mean age of the study participants is 65 years and 51% are female. A cross-validated deep learning model trained on silhouettes enables accurate estimation of VAT, ASAT, and GFAT volumes (R2: 0.88, 0.93, and 0.93, respectively), outperforming a comparator model combining anthropometric and bioimpedance measures (ΔR2 = 0.05–0.13). Next, we study VAT/ASAT ratio, a nearly body-mass index (BMI)—and waist circumference-independent marker of metabolically unhealthy fat distribution. While the comparator model poorly predicts VAT/ASAT ratio (R2: 0.17–0.26), a silhouette-based model enables significant improvement (R2: 0.50–0.55). Increased silhouette-predicted VAT/ASAT ratio is associated with increased risk of prevalent and incident type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease independent of BMI and waist circumference. These results demonstrate that body silhouette images can estimate important measures of fat distribution, laying the scientific foundation for scalable population-based assessment.

Accumulation of distinct persistent organic pollutants is associated with adipose tissue inflammation

Hydrophobic environmental chemicals bio-accumulate in adipose tissue (AT) in animals and humans, but their impact on diseases related to adipose tissue dysfunction remains unclear. Moreover, visceral rather than subcutaneous (SC) fat deposition is more closely associated with cardio-metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, fatty liver and cardiovascular diseases. We therefore tested the hypotheses that environmental chemicals bio-accumulate in a fat depot specific pattern and that these patterns are related AT inflammation and obesity comorbidities.First, we developed an extraction method for detecting and quantifying a set of 9 persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in human AT. The quantified chemicals exhibit KOW coefficients from 4 to 7. Paired abdominal omental and SC AT samples were obtained from 54 individuals (30 women, 24 men) with a wide range of body mass index (BMI, 16–70 kg/m2) during laparoscopic abdominal surgeries. Among the POPs are classical halogenated substances like Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), but also fragrance substances.We find that AT concentrations of these chemicals are neither significantly different between visceral and SC fat depots nor between women and men. However, AT bio-accumulation of distinct POPs significantly correlates with AT macrophage infiltration, adipocyte size and parameters of glucose metabolism. In both fat depots, the strongest correlations of POPs (Ethyl- tetradecanoate, 4,4′-Diisopropylbiphenyl, 2-Phenyltetralin, 2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-Hexachlorobiphenyl, Hexachlorobenzene) and AT macrophage infiltration were detected in lean individuals. In men with obesity, abundance of POPs correlated with the duration of obesity. Additional significant associations between AT POPs and parameters of glycemia, insulin sensitivity, and inflammation suggest that specific environmental chemicals may contribute to AT dysfunction, adipocyte hypertrophy, impaired glucose metabolism, systemic inflammation and variation in fat distribution, but not to obesity.

Circulating betatrophin/ANGPTL8 levels correlate with body fat distribution in individuals with normal glucose tolerance but not those with glucose disorders

BackgroundThe relationship between betatrophin/ANGPTL8 and obesity has been investigated using body mass index (BMI); however, since BMI reflects overall adiposity rather than body fat distribution, it remains unclear whether fat deposition in different areas of the body affects betatrophin expression. Here, we investigated the correlation between circulating betatrophin levels and body fat distribution in patients with different glucose tolerance.MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional study in 128 participants with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT; n = 64) or normal glucose tolerance (NGT; n = 64). Circulating betatrophin levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Body fat distribution (subcutaneous, visceral, and limb fat) was measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and a body fat meter.ResultsAfter controlling for age, sex, and BMI, betatrophin was correlated positively with visceral adipose tissue-to-subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio (VAT/SAT ratio; r = 0.339, p = 0.009) and negatively with body fat ratio (BFR; r = − 0.275, p = 0.035), left lower limb fat ratio (LLR; r = − 0.330, p = 0.011), and right lower limb fat ratio (RLR; r = − 0.288, p = 0.027) in the NGT group, with these correlations remaining after controlling for triglycerides. VAT/SAT ratio (standardized β = 0.419, p = 0.001) was independently associated with serum betatrophin levels; however, betatrophin was not associated with body fat distribution variables in the IGT group.ConclusionsCirculating betatrophin levels correlated positively with VAT/SAT ratio and negatively with lower limb fat, but not with subcutaneous or upper limb fat, in individuals with normal glucose tolerance. Thus, betatrophin may be a potential biomarker for body fat distribution in individuals without glucose disorders.

Regional fat depot masses are influenced by protein-coding gene variants.

Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is a prominent cardiometabolic risk factor that increases cardio-metabolic disease risk independently of BMI and for which multiple genetic loci have been identified. However, WHR is a relatively crude proxy for fat distribution and it does not capture all variation in fat distribution. We here present a study of the role of coding genetic variants on fat mass in 6 distinct regions of the body, based on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry imaging on more than 17k participants. We find that the missense variant CCDC92S70C, previously associated with WHR, is associated specifically increased leg fat mass and reduced visceral but not subcutaneous central fat. The minor allele-carrying transcript of CCDC92 is constitutively more highly expressed in adipose tissue samples. In addition, we identify two coding variants in SPATA20 and UQCC1 that are associated with arm fat mass. SPATA20K422R is a low-frequency variant with a large effect on arm fat only, and UQCC1R51Q is a common variant reaching significance for arm but showing similar trends in other subcutaneous fat depots. Our findings support the notion that different fat compartments are regulated by distinct genetic factors.

Visceral and Intrahepatic Fat Are Associated with Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Above Other Ectopic Fat Depots: The Framingham Heart Study

BackgroundWe examined the associations among 8 different fat depots accumulated in various anatomic regions and the relationship between these fat depots and multiple cardiometabolic risk factors. MethodsParticipants were from the Framingham Heart Study Offspring and Third Generation who also participated in the multidetector computed tomography substudy in 2002-2005. Exposures were multidetector computed tomography–derived fat depots, including abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue, abdominal visceral adipose tissue, intramuscular fat, intrathoracic fat, pericardial fat, thoracic periaortic fat, intrahepatic fat, and renal sinus fat. Multivariable-adjusted regression analyses with a forward selection procedure were performed to identify the most predictive fat depots. ResultsOf 2529 participants, 51.9% were women (mean age, 51.1 years). Visceral adipose tissue had the strongest correlations with each of the other fat measures (range, 0.26-0.77) and with various cardiometabolic risk factors (range, −0.34 to 0.39). As determined by the selection models, visceral adipose tissue was the only fat depot that was associated with all cardiometabolic risk factors evaluated in this study (all P<.05). Selection models also showed that subcutaneous adipose tissue and intrahepatic fat were associated with cardiometabolic risk factors related to the traits of dysglycemia, dyslipidemia, and hypertension (all P<.05). However, only associations with visceral adipose tissue and intrahepatic fat persisted after further adjustment for body mass index and waist circumference. ConclusionsVisceral adipose tissue and intrahepatic fat were consistent correlates of cardiometabolic risk factors, above and beyond standard anthropometric indices. Our data provide important insights for understanding the associations between variations in fat distribution and cardiometabolic abnormalities.

Degree of obesity influences the relationship of PAI-1 with body fat distribution and metabolic variables in African women

IntroductionAlthough the relationship of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) with obesity has been well established, the relationship of PAI-1 with different body fat distribution patterns is less clear particularly in non-white ethnicities. MethodsWe investigated the cross-sectional association of PAI-1act with body fat % and two different body fat distribution patterns, namely sarcopenic obesity (SO) and visceral (VAT) compared to subcutaneous (SCAT) abdominal obesity, in 246 healthy African women by creating sub-groups according to different body fat distribution patterns. ResultsThe PAI-1act level of the SO group did not differ significantly from that of the excessive % body fat, non-sarcopenic group (p=0.8). The relationship of PAI-1act, with body fat %, insulin, triglycerides and appendicular skeletal mass (ASM) was influenced by body fat distribution patterns and degree of obesity. PAI-1act was higher (1.65 vs 0.16U/ml; p=0.001) in women with a proportionally higher abdominal VAT compared to higher abdominal SCAT compartment in the total study population, but not in the centrally obese sub-group (1.72 vs 0.83U/ml; p=0.5). Multiple regression models indicated that body fat % per se did not contribute significantly to PAI-1act variance in women with increased fat mass. ConclusionFat distribution patterns and degree of obesity influenced the association of PAI-1act with insulin, triglycerides, ASM and body fat % in African women. In centrally obese women, abdominal VAT no longer contributed more to plasma PAI-1act, than abdominal SCAT. Inflammation and endothelial dysfunction contributed more to PAI-1act variance in obese African women than did body fat % per se.

SU‐F‐I‐37: How Fat Distribution and Table Height Affect Estimates of Patient Size in CT Scanning: A Phantom Study

Purpose:Localizer projection radiographs acquired prior to CT scans are used to estimate patient size, affecting the function of Automatic Tube Current Modulation (ATCM) and hence CTDIvol and SSDE. Due to geometric effects, the projected patient size varies with scanner table height and with the orientation of the localizer (AP versus PA). This study sought to determine if patient size estimates made from localizer scans is affected by variations in fat distribution, specifically when the widest part of the patient is not at the geometric center of the patient.Methods:Lipid gel bolus material was wrapped around an anthropomorphic phantom to simulate two different body mass distributions. The first represented a patient with fairly rigid fat and had a generally oval shape. The second was bell‐shaped, representing corpulent patients more susceptible to gravity's lustful tug. Each phantom configuration was imaged using an AP localizer and then a PA localizer. This was repeated at various scanner table heights. The width of the phantom was measured from the localizer and diagnostic images using in‐house software.Results:1) The projected phantom width varied up to 39% as table height changed.2) At some table heights, the width of the phantom, designed to represent larger patients, exceeded the localizer field of view, resulting in an underestimation of the phantom width.3) The oval‐shaped phantom approached a normalized phantom width of 1 at a table height several centimeters lower (AP localizer) or higher (PA localizer) than did the bell‐shaped phantom.Conclusion:Accurate estimation of patient size from localizer scans is dependent on patient positioning with respect to scanner isocenter and is limited in large patients. Further, patient size is more accurately measured on projection images if the widest part of the patient, rather than the geometric center of the patient, is positioned at scanner isocenter.

Anthropometry, Body Composition, Metabolic Profiles and Blood Pressure in Elderly of Asian Indian Origin: The Santiniketan Longitudinal Study on Aging

Objective: The present study was aimed to investigate the changes and interaction of metabolic and body fat distribution variables in a gap of one year. Methods: A total of 254 participants aged 55 to 70 years took part in the longitudinal study. Anthropometric measures were collected and body fat distributions were subsequently calculated. Metabolic variables and blood pressure were also recorded. All measures were taken twice in a gap of one year. Results: There were significant changes on height, waist circumference mid upper arm circumference, sum of four skinfold, arm muscle circumference, arm muscle area, arm fat area, waist-height ratio, conicity index, total cholesterol, triglycerides, High and very low density lipoprotein as well as insulin and HOMA-IR. Partial correlation (adjusted for sex) revealed no significant negative association between changes in metabolic and body fat distribution. Conclusion: Increasing age didn’t warrant decrease in cardiovascular risk by means of metabolic and body fat distribution measures.

Rare variant associations with waist-to-hip ratio in European-American and African-American women from the NHLBI-Exome Sequencing Project.

Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), a relative comparison of waist and hip circumferences, is an easily accessible measurement of body fat distribution, in particular central abdominal fat. A high WHR indicates more intra-abdominal fat deposition and is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Recent genome-wide association studies have identified numerous common genetic loci influencing WHR, but the contributions of rare variants have not been previously reported. We investigated rare variant associations with WHR in 1510 European-American and 1186 African-American women from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-Exome Sequencing Project. Association analysis was performed on the gene level using several rare variant association methods. The strongest association was observed for rare variants in IKBKB (P=4.0 × 10(-8)) in European-Americans, where rare variants in this gene are predicted to decrease WHRs. The activation of the IKBKB gene is involved in inflammatory processes and insulin resistance, which may affect normal food intake and body weight and shape. Meanwhile, aggregation of rare variants in COBLL1, previously found to harbor common variants associated with WHR and fasting insulin, were nominally associated (P=2.23 × 10(-4)) with higher WHR in European-Americans. However, these significant results are not shared between African-Americans and European-Americans that may be due to differences in the allelic architecture of the two populations and the small sample sizes. Our study indicates that the combined effect of rare variants contribute to the inter-individual variation in fat distribution through the regulation of insulin response.

From Genome-Wide Association Study to Phenome-Wide Association Study: New Paradigms in Obesity Research.

Obesity is a condition in which excess body fat has accumulated over an extent that increases the risk of many chronic diseases. The current clinical classification of obesity is based on measurement of body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio, and body fat percentage. However, these measurements do not account for the wide individual variations in fat distribution, degree of fatness or health risks, and genetic variants identified in the genome-wide association studies (GWAS). In this review, we will address this important issue with the introduction of phenome, phenomics, and phenome-wide association study (PheWAS). We will discuss the new paradigm shift from GWAS to PheWAS in obesity research. In the era of precision medicine, phenomics and PheWAS provide the required approaches to better definition and classification of obesity according to the association of obese phenome with their unique molecular makeup, lifestyle, and environmental impact.

Android fat distribution affects some hemostatic parameters in women with polycystic ovary syndrome compared with healthy control subjects matched for age and body mass index

To correlate hemostatic parameters with clinical markers of fat distribution and laboratory variables in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) compared with healthy control subjects. Cross-sectional study. Tertiary teaching hospital. Forty-five women with PCOS and 45 control women matched for age and body mass index (BMI). Clinical evaluation and venipuncture. Age, BMI, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist-hip ratio (WHR), Ferriman-Gallwey index, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, total testosterone, free testosterone (FT), thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI), D-dimer, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) 1, and the parameters of thrombin generation test (TGT), including the lag time (Tlag), time to peak thrombin generation (Tmax), peak concentration (Cmax), and the area under the thrombin generation curve (TAUC). In the PCOS group, BMI and WC correlated positively with TAFI, D-dimer, PAI-1, Cmax, and TAUC; HC with D-dimer and PAI-1; WHR with TAFI, D-dimer, and PAI-1; glucose with TAFI; insulin and homeostasis-model assessment of insulin resistance with PAI-1; and FT with Cmax and TAUC. Age correlated positively with D-dimer and PAI-1, and negatively with Tlag and Tmax. In the control group, there were no correlations between clinical markers of fat distribution and hemostatic parameters, but age and fasting glucose correlated positively with PAI-1, and FT with Tmax and TAUC. In PCOS, android body fat distribution may directly affect hemostatic parameters, particularly in young and overweight women. Further studies are needed to establish a correlation between these results and an increase in thromboembolic risk.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in rural elderly of Asian Indian origin.

Virtually no studies have been undertaken to investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) among the rural elderly in India. The aim of the present study was to identify the effects of sex and age on body fat distribution, blood pressure (BP), and metabolic variables as well as to look at the prevalence of MS and related phenotypes by age-groups and sex. A total of 312 participants aged ≥55 years took part in the present cross-sectional study. All the participants were grouped into: Group I (55-59 years); Group II (60-64 years); Group III (65-69 years); and Group IV (≥70 years). Anthropometric measures were collected using standard techniques. Metabolic profiles and blood pressure were also measured. MANOVA revealed significant sex and age group effects on percent body fat, trunk extremity ratio, and diastolic BP. Significant sex effects were evident for BMI, waist-hip ratio, waist-height ratio, total cholesterol, and HDL. The overall prevalence of MS was found to be 28.2% with a higher prevalence in females (36.9%) as compared to males (23.9%). It seems reasonable to argue that MS is considerably high in the rural elderly of Asian Indian origin and early intervention is warranted to avoid further escalation in cardiovascular disease.

Nutritional education and carbohydrate counting in children with type 1 diabetes treated with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion: the effects on dietary habits, body composition and glycometabolic control

Carbohydrate counting (CHC) in combination with nutritional education has been used to optimize the insulin dose in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). The aim of this study was to test the impact of CHC and nutritional education on changes in dietary habits, body composition and body fat distribution in children with T1D treated with insulin pumps (CSII). Twenty-five children with T1D and CSII were recruited and valuated at baseline and after 18 months of follow-up. They were trained in CHC and following standard nutrition education program (based on American Diabetes Association and International Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes guidelines); clinical, biochemical and nutritional variables were measured. In the total population, body composition, body fat distribution and biochemical variables did not change, at follow-up; HbA1c was significantly reduced (8.50 ± 0.77 vs 7.92 ± 0.74 %; p < 0.001) without changing insulin/kg/day requirement. In the sub-group of patients with a significant HbA1c reduction (ΔHbA1c ≥ 0.5 %, n = 12), the carbohydrate (CHO) intake was significantly higher at follow-up (53.0 ± 4.0 vs 57.6 ± 2.5 %; p < 0.01); on the contrary, fat (31.3 ± 3.6 vs 28.5 ± 1.6 %; p < 0.05) and protein intake (15.4 ± 1.8 vs 13.3 ± 1.6 %; p < 0.01) significantly decreased. Patients without a significant HbA1c reduction did not show any difference. CHC, in combination with nutritional education, does not affect dietary habits, body composition and body fat distribution in children with T1D treated with CSII. Moreover, the sub-group of subjects showing a significant improvement in glycometabolic control reported an increase in CHO intake and a reduction in fat and protein intake.

Increase in Android Fat Mass With Age in Healthy Women With Normal Body Mass Index

Body fat distribution is gender specific: men tend to accumulate adipose tissue in the android region, whereas women tend to do so in the gynoid region. The aim of the study was to assess total fat mass (TFM), android fat (AF), and gynoid fat (GF) mass in a selected group of healthy adult women with normal body mass index (BMI) to evaluate variations in fat distribution. Seventy-seven women (20–69yr of age) with BMI values between ≥18.5 and ≤24.9kg/m2 were included. TMF, AF, GF, and the AF to GF ratio (A:G) were assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results showed an increase in AF after the fifth decade of life (D), which reached statistical significance in the sixth and seventh decades (p<0.05–0.008), a 33% increase in kg of AF between the fourth and seventh and a 20% increase in A:G between the third and the seventh, with no significant changes in TFM and GF. In normal BMI women, age appears to be associated with changes in fat mass distribution with an increase in AF, which might have potential deleterious health consequences, after the fifth D.

Sex differences in HPA axis activity in response to a meal

BackgroundSex may influence the relationship between HPA axis functioning and obesity. This has been suggested to be due to sex-specific differences in body composition, body fat distribution and psychological variables. Age and the use of oral contraceptives may also influence the relationship between HPA axis functioning and obesity. ObjectiveTo systematically investigate whether body composition, body fat distribution, psychological variables, age, or possible oral contraceptive use contribute to sex differences in HPA axis activity in response to a meal. MethodsSubjects were men (n=19) and women (n=19) between 18 and 51years old with BMI between 20.3 and 33.2kg/m2. HPA axis activity was measured by salivary free cortisol levels before consuming a meal, and at 45, 75 and 125min postprandial on four repeated test days. Anthropometric and body composition measurements were performed. Questionnaires were used to assess cognitive eating behavior and trait anxiety level. ResultsNo differences between the test days in postprandial cortisol responses appeared. Responses were significantly higher in men compared with women (p<.05). No significant correlations were found between cortisol concentrations and sex-specific body composition or body fat distribution. Psychological variables did not contribute to differences in cortisol responses after a meal between men and women. In women, baseline cortisol concentrations correlated inversely with age (p=.024). ConclusionHigher HPA axis activity following a meal in men vs. women remained irrespective of sex-specific differences in body composition, body fat distribution, psychological variables, or in age. In women baseline cortisol concentrations were age-dependent.

Body fat distribution in perinatally HIV-infected and HIV-exposed but uninfected children in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy: outcomes from the Pediatric HIV/AIDS Cohort Study

Associations between abnormal body fat distribution and clinical variables are poorly understood in pediatric HIV disease. Our objective was to compare total body fat and its distribution in perinatally HIV-infected and HIV-exposed but uninfected (HEU) children and to evaluate associations with clinical variables. In a cross-sectional analysis, children aged 7-16 y in the Pediatric HIV/AIDS Cohort Study underwent regionalized measurements of body fat via anthropometric methods and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate body fat by HIV, with adjustment for age, Tanner stage, race, sex, and correlates of body fat in HIV-infected children. Percentage total body fat was compared with NHANES data. Males accounted for 47% of the 369 HIV-infected and 51% of the 176 HEU children. Compared with HEU children, HIV-infected children were older, were more frequently non-Hispanic black, more frequently had Tanner stage ≥3, and had lower mean height (-0.32 compared with 0.29), weight (0.13 compared with 0.70), and BMI (0.33 compared with 0.63) z scores. On average, HIV-infected children had a 5% lower percentage total body fat (TotF), a 2.8% lower percentage extremity fat (EF), a 1.4% higher percentage trunk fat (TF), and a 10% higher trunk-to-extremity fat ratio (TEFR) than did the HEU children and a lower TotF compared with NHANES data. Stavudine use was associated with lower EF and higher TF and TEFR. Non-nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor use was associated with higher TotF and EF and lower TEFR. Although BMI and total body fat were significantly lower in the HIV-infected children than in the HEU children, body fat distribution in the HIV-infected children followed a pattern associated with cardiovascular disease risk and possibly related to specific antiretroviral drugs.

Android Fat Depot Is More Closely Associated with Metabolic Syndrome than Abdominal Visceral Fat in Elderly People

BackgroundFat accumulation in android compartments may confer increased metabolic risk. The incremental utility of measuring regional fat deposition in association with metabolic syndrome (MS) has not been well described particularly in an elderly population.Methods and FindingsAs part of the Korean Longitudinal Study on Health and Aging, which is a community-based cohort study of people aged more than 65 years, subjects (287 male, 75.9±8.6 years and 278 female, 76.0±8.8 years) with regional body composition data using Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry for android/gynoid area, computed tomography for visceral/subcutaneous adipose tissue (VAT/SAT), and cardiometabolic markers including adiponectin and high-sensitivity CRP were enrolled. We investigated the relationship between regional body composition and MS in multivariate regression models. Mean VAT and SAT area was 131.4±65.5 cm2 and 126.9±55.2 cm2 in men (P = 0.045) and 120.0±46.7 cm2 and 211.8±65.9 cm2 in women (P<0.01). Mean android and gynoid fat amount was 1.8±0.8 kg and 2.5±0.8 kg in men and 2.0±0.6 kg and 3.3±0.8 kg in women, respectively (both P<0.01). VAT area and android fat amount was strongly correlated with most metabolic risk factors compared to SAT or gynoid fat. Furthermore, android fat amount was significantly associated with clustering of MS components after adjustment for multiple parameters including age, gender, adiponectin, hsCRP, a surrogate marker of insulin resistance, whole body fat mass and VAT area.ConclusionsOur findings are consistent with the hypothesized role of android fat as a pathogenic fat depot in the MS. Measurement of android fat may provide a more complete understanding of metabolic risk associated with variations in fat distribution.

Early traits of metabolic syndrome in pediatric post-cancer survivors: outcomes in adolescents and young adults treated for childhood medulloblastoma

To analyze traits of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in medulloblastoma survivors. Sixteen childhood medulloblastoma survivors aged 18.0 (4.4) years, with history of craniospinal radiation therapy (RT) were compared with nine control subjects matched by age, gender, and body mass index, according to fat distribution, metabolic and cardiovascular variables. Medulloblastoma patients showed increases in waist circumference and its relationships (all p < 0.05), and HOMA1-IR (p = 0.006), which were modified by growth hormone (GH) secretion status. However, these increases were within normal range. Adolescent and young adult survivors of medulloblastoma showed centripetal fat deposition and decreased insulin sensitivity, associated with GH status. Pediatric brain tumor survivors following RT should be monitored for the diagnosis of MetS traits predisposing to cardiovascular disease.

Once fat was fat and that was that : our changing perspectives on adipose tissue

Past civilisations saw excess body fat as a symbol of wealth and prosperity as the general population struggled with food shortages and famine. Nowadays it is recognised that obesity is associated with co-morbidities such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Our views on the roll of adipose tissue have also changed, from being solely a passive energy store, to an important endocrine organ that modulates metabolism, immunity and satiety. The relationship between increased visceral adiposity and obesity-related co-morbidities has lead to the recognition that variation in fat distribution contributes to ethnic differences in the prevalence of obesity-related diseases. Our current negative view of adipose tissue may change with the use of pluripotent adipose-derived stromal cells, which may lead to future autologous stem cell therapies for bone, muscle, cardiac and cartilage disorders. Here, we briefly review the concepts that adipose tissue is an endocrine organ, that differences in body fat distribution underline the aetiology of obesity-related co-morbidities, and the use of adipose-derived stem cells for future therapies.