title: Visceral adipose tissue differences in black and white women.
abstract: Fat distribution and metabolic variables were studied in 8 black and 10 white age- and weight-matched obese women undergoing a 6-mo weight-reducing regimen. Fat patterning was determined by using anthropometry and computed tomography to quantitate total, subcutaneous, and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) areas at the L2-L3 and L4-L5 levels of the lumbar spine, before, during, and after a modified fast. Black women had smaller depots of VAT than white women at both the L2-L3 (P = 0.004) and L4-L5 (P = 0.054) sites. Differences persisted after an average 17.2-kg weight loss. Although waist-hip ratio was similar in both groups, black women had 23% less VAT than white women (P = 0.007). Black women had significantly lower plasma glucose (P = 0.031) and triglycerides (P = 0.006) with significantly higher plasma high-density-lipoprotein concentrations (P < 0.001). Data from this study suggest that racial differences exist in VAT and metabolic risk factors for obesity-related illness.
authors.affiliation: US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, MD 20705-2350.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.forename: S Z
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Yanovski
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Avila
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Hubbard
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D044383:Black People; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001823:Body Composition; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014781:Viscera; D015431:Weight Loss; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides