Correlation between midthigh low-density muscle and insulin resistance in obese nondiabetic patients in Korea.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the link between lipid-rich skeletal muscle, namely low-density muscle, and insulin resistance in Korea.


METHODS
Abdominal adipose tissue areas and midthigh skeletal muscle areas of 75 obese nondiabetic subjects (23 men, 52 women; mean age +/- SD, 41.9 +/- 14.1 years) were measured by computed tomography (CT). The midthigh skeletal muscle areas were subdivided into low-density muscle (0 to +30 Hounsfield units) and normal-density muscle (+31 to +100 Hounsfield units). The homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) score was calculated to assess whole-body insulin sensitivity.


RESULTS
The abdominal visceral fat area and the midthigh low-density muscle area were found to be well correlated with the HOMA score (r = 0.471, P < 0.01 and r = 0.513, P < 0.01, respectively). The correlation between low-density muscle area and insulin resistance persisted after adjusting for BMI or total body fat mass (r = 0.451, P < 0.01 and r = 0.522, P < 0.01, respectively) and even after adjusting for abdominal visceral fat area (r = 0.399, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The midthigh low-density muscle area seems to be a reliable determinant of insulin resistance in Korean obese nondiabetic patients.
Kim
Dolmi
D
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Nam
Suyoun
S
Ahn
Chulwoo
C
Kim
Kyungwook
K
Yoon
Soojee
S
Kim
Junuh
J
Cha
Bongsoo
B
Lim
Sungkil
S
Kim
Kyungrae
K
Lee
Hyunchul
H
Huh
Kapbum
K
D000005:Abdomen; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000328:Adult; D005215:Fasting; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D007723:Korea; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012867:Skin; D013848:Thigh; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified