Key result
Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was a more important contributor to metabolic alterations than mid-thigh fat-rich muscle, as high muscle fat only worsened risks in the presence of high VAT.
Why the study?
Does visceral adipose tissue or mid-thigh fat-rich muscle contribute more to metabolic profile alterations in postmenopausal women?
Cross-Sectional (n=103)
Does visceral adipose tissue or mid-thigh fat-rich muscle contribute more to metabolic profile alterations in postmenopausal women?
Visceral adipose tissue is a more important contributor to metabolic risk and insulin resistance than mid-thigh muscle fat infiltration in postmenopausal women.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
VAT assessment may better inform metabolic risk than muscle fat in postmenopausal women; extends fat distribution data but leaves causal effects open.
This study explored the relationship between muscle fat infiltration derived from mid-thigh computed tomography (CT) scan, central fat distribution and insulin sensitivity in postmenopausal women. Mid-thigh CT scans were used to measure low attenuation muscle surface (LAMS) (0-34 Hounsfield units (HU)), which represented a specific component of fat-rich muscle. Whole-body insulin sensitivity (M/I) was evaluated by an euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp. A group of 103 women aged 57.0 ± 4.4 years was studied. Women with higher levels of LAMS presented higher metabolic risk features, particularly elevated fasting, 2-h plasma glucose (2hPG) concentrations and diminished M/I (P < 0.05). To further study the contribution of muscle fat infiltration and central adiposity on metabolic parameters, we divided the whole group based on the median of LAMS and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). As expected, the best metabolic profile was found in the Low-LAMS/Low-VAT group and the worst in the High-LAMS/High-VAT group. Women with Low-LAMS/High-VAT presented similar metabolic risks to those with High-LAMS/High-VAT. There was no difference between High-LAMS/Low-VAT and Low-LAMS/Low-VAT, which presents the most healthy metabolic and glycemic profiles as reflected by the lowest levels of cardiovascular disease risk variables. This suggests that High-LAMS/Low-VAT is also at low risk of metabolic deteriorations and that High-LAMS, only in the presence of High-VAT seems associated with deteriorated risks. Although increased mid-thigh fat-rich muscle was related to a deteriorated metabolic profile, VAT appears as a more important contributor to alterations in the metabolic profile in postmenopausal women.
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Dubé et al. (2011) conducted a cross-sectional in Postmenopausal women (n=103). High visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and high low attenuation muscle surface (LAMS) vs. Low VAT and low LAMS was evaluated on Metabolic risk features including fasting glucose, 2-h plasma glucose, and whole-body insulin sensitivity (p=<0.05). Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was a more important contributor to metabolic alterations than mid-thigh fat-rich muscle, as high muscle fat only worsened risks in the presence of high VAT.
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