Visceral adipose tissue in women: longitudinal study of the effects of fat gain, time, and race.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of fat gain, time, and race on the accumulation of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in a group of normal-weight premenopausal women.


METHODS
Sixty-five women participated in the study (32 African American and 33 white). The mean age of subjects was 34 +/- 6 years (range, 22 to 47 years). Eligible subjects were women who had body mass indices <25 kg/m(2) at baseline and who had completed evaluations at baseline and at follow-up year 1, without intervention. A subset of subjects was reevaluated annually for up to 4 years. Body composition was assessed by DXA, and VAT was determined from a single computed tomography scan. A linear mixed model was used to examine changes in VAT over time, with total body fat as a covariate


RESULTS
Total fat mass was not significantly different between races at baseline and increased significantly in both groups over time (p < 0.001). Time-related increases in total body fat were greater in African-American women (p < 0.01). VAT was significantly higher in white women at baseline (p < 0.01) and increased significantly over time in both races (p < 0.01), but remained higher in white women (p < 0.001). Increases in VAT, relative to total body fat, were greater than the increases in total body fat over time, independent of age and race (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Gaining total body-fat mass results in a higher increase in VAT, relative to total body fat, regardless of race and age, although African-American women maintain a lower VAT levels across time.
Lara-Castro
Cristina
C
Department of Nutrition Sciences, Clinical Nutrition Research Unit, Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1675 Webb Nutrition Sciences Building, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. larac@uab.edu
Weinsier
Roland L
RL
Hunter
Gary R
GR
Desmond
Renée
R
D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D044383:Black People; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D044469:Racial Groups; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014781:Viscera; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American