March 1, 1997The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
Independent Genetic Factors Determine the Amount and Distribution of Fat in Women after the Menopause1
Key result
Monozygotic twins showed significantly greater intrapair resemblance for total and central fat than dizygotic twins (P=0.005), with genetic factors explaining up to 60% of variance.
Population
432 healthy postmenopausal twin women, mean age 60 +/- 0.3 yr, 10 +/- 0.4 yr post menopausal.
Design
Cross-sectional
Authors
Discussion
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Implication
Does not yet change postmenopausal obesity management; leaves open gene identification for fat distribution in targeted research.
Study Design
Type
Observational (n=432)
Structured PICO
P
Population
432 healthy postmenopausal twin women (mean age 60 years) recruited to study genetic influences on body fat and its distribution.
O
Outcome
Total and central body fat measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometrysurrogate
Main Result
p-value: p=0.005
Total adiposity and central abdominal fat mass in postmenopausal women are under strong, independent genetic influences, suggesting different genes regulate total versus central adiposity.
Cite This Study
Samaras et al. (1997) conducted an observational in Healthy postmenopausal women (n=432). Genetic factors (Monozygotic twins) vs. Dizygotic twins was evaluated on Intrapair resemblance for total and central body fat (p=0.005). Monozygotic twins showed significantly greater intrapair resemblance for total and central fat than dizygotic twins (P=0.005), with genetic factors explaining up to 60% of variance.