Body composition and common carotid artery remodeling in a healthy population.
BACKGROUND
An independent association between obesity and preclinical carotid atherosclerosis has been demonstrated, however, the pathophysiological links were not clearly established. Body composition (BC) influences systemic hemodynamics and may participate in the remodeling of common carotid artery (CCA), independently of risk factors.


OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the association between CCA structure and BC in a large population of healthy subjects.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study.


METHODS
The study was conducted at 19 European centers.


METHODS
The study included 627 healthy subjects (252 men, age 30-60 yr, body mass index 17-40 kg/m2).


METHODS
CCA luminal diameter and intima-media thickness were measured on digitized ultrasound images. Acoustic properties of CCA wall were evaluated by digital densitometric analysis and described in terms of mean gray level. BC was assessed by electrical bioimpedance. Insulin sensitivity (euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp) and plasma adiponectin levels were measured. Associations between CCA structure, age, BC, and metabolic and atherosclerotic risk factors were analyzed by multivariate regression models.


RESULTS
Independent factors affecting CCA diameter were fat-free mass and waist girth (standardized r = 0.44 and 0.12; P < 0.01 and < 0.0001; R2 = 0.35); independent correlates of intima-media thickness were age, CCA diameter, systolic blood pressure, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (standardized r = 0.39, 0.25, 0.10, and 0.14; P < 0.005-0.0001; R2 = 0.40). The mean gray level of carotid wall was independently associated with age and waist girth (standardized r = 0.23 and 0.12; P < 0.0001 and = 0.001; R2 = 0.30).


CONCLUSIONS
Findings of this cross-sectional study suggest that BC modulates CCA diameter, and may induce adaptive changes in carotid wall thickness, independently of metabolic and atherosclerotic factors. Central adiposity modifies the acoustic properties of carotid wall.
Kozakova
Michaela
M
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56126 Pisa, Italy. m.kozakova@int.med.unipi.it
Palombo
Carlo
C
Paterni
Marco
M
Anderwald
Christian-Heinz
CH
Konrad
Thomas
T
Colgan
Mary-Paula
MP
Flyvbjerg
Allan
A
Dekker
Jacqueline
J
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography