Greater visceral and thigh subcutaneous adipose tissue and lesser thigh muscle in South Asians contributed to ethnic differences in cardiometabolic disease compared to Europeans.
Observational (n=1,183)
Does fat distribution (VAT, TSAT, thigh muscle) explain the excess cardiometabolic risk in South Asians compared to Europeans?
Differences in body composition, specifically greater visceral and thigh subcutaneous fat and lesser thigh muscle, contribute to the excess cardiometabolic risk observed in South Asians.
OBJECTIVE: To compare fat distribution and associations between fat depots and cardiometabolic traits in South Asians and Europeans. METHODS: Five hundred and fourteen South Asians and 669 Europeans, aged 56-86. Questionnaires, record review, blood testing, and coronary artery calcification scores provided diabetes and clinical plus subclinical coronary heart disease (CHD) diagnoses. Abdominal visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue, thigh subcutaneous adipose tissue (TSAT), intermuscular and intramuscular thigh fat and thigh muscle were measured by CT. RESULTS: Accounting for body size, South Asians had greater VAT and TSAT than Europeans, but less thigh muscle. Associations between depots and disease were stronger in South Asians than Europeans. In multivariable analyses in South Asians, VAT was positively associated with diabetes and CHD, while TSAT and thigh muscle were protective for diabetes, and thigh muscle for CHD. Differences in VAT and thigh muscle only partially explained the excess diabetes and CHD in South Asians versus Europeans. Insulin resistance did not account for the effects of TSAT or thigh muscle. CONCLUSIONS: Greater VAT and TSAT and lesser thigh muscle in South Asians contributed to ethnic differences in cardiometabolic disease. Effects of TSAT and thigh muscle were independent of insulin resistance.
Eastwood et al. (Mon,) conducted a observational in Cardiometabolic disease (n=1,183). South Asian ethnicity (fat distribution) vs. European ethnicity was evaluated on Associations between fat depots and cardiometabolic traits (diabetes and CHD). Greater visceral and thigh subcutaneous adipose tissue and lesser thigh muscle in South Asians contributed to ethnic differences in cardiometabolic disease compared to Europeans.