The ageing male heart: myocardial triglyceride content as independent predictor of diastolic function.
OBJECTIVE
In animal models of obesity and diabetes mellitus, myocardial TG accumulation is associated with decreased myocardial function. In the physiologically ageing heart, myocardial triglyceride (TG) accumulation may also occur due to reduced myocardial fatty acid oxidation. The role of myocardial TG in the ageing human heart is unknown. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to evaluate the effects of ageing on myocardial TG content, and to determine the association between myocardial TG content and heart function.


RESULTS
1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging of the heart were performed in 43 healthy male subjects. Mean age (range) of the subjects was 44 (20-66) years. Body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, and biochemical markers were determined. Age correlated significantly to myocardial TG content (r = 0.57, P < 0.05) independently of BMI. Furthermore, myocardial TG content correlated negatively with left ventricular diastolic function (represented by E/A ratio, r = -0.68, P < 0.05). Multivariable analysis indicated myocardial TG content as independent predictor (P < 0.05) of the age related decrease in diastolic heart function.


CONCLUSIONS
Myocardial TG content increases in the physiologically ageing male heart and is associated with the age-related decline in diastolic function, independent of BMI, blood pressure, and biochemical blood markers.
van der Meer
Rutger W
RW
Department of Radiology (C2-S), Leiden University Medical Center, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands. r.w.van_der_meer@lumc.nl
Rijzewijk
Luuk J
LJ
Diamant
Michaela
M
Hammer
Sebastiaan
S
Schär
Michael
M
Bax
Jeroen J
JJ
Smit
Johannes W A
JW
Romijn
Johannes A
JA
de Roos
Albert
A
Lamb
Hildo J
HJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003971:Diastole / Q000502:physiology*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000737:chemistry; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000032:analysis*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D014280:Triglycerides