Abdominal and gynoid fat mass are associated with cardiovascular risk factors in men and women.
BACKGROUND
Abdominal obesity is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the correlation of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) measurements of regional fat mass with CVD risk factors has not been completely investigated.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the association of estimated regional fat mass, measured with DEXA and CVD risk factors.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study of 175 men and 417 women. DEXA measurements of regional fat mass were performed on all subjects, who subsequently participated in a community intervention program.


METHODS
Outcome measures included impaired glucose tolerance, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypertension.


RESULTS
We began by assessing the associations of the adipose measures with the cardiovascular outcomes. After adjustment for confounders, a sd unit increase in abdominal fat mass was the strongest predictor of most cardiovascular variables in men [odds ratio (OR)=2.63-3.37; P<0.05], whereas the ratio of abdominal to gynoid fat mass was the strongest predictor in women (OR=1.48-2.19; P<0.05). Gynoid fat mass was positively associated with impaired glucose tolerance, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypertension in men (OR=2.07-2.15; P<0.05), whereas the ratio of gynoid to total fat mass showed a negative association with hypertriglyceridemia and hypertension (OR=0.42-0.62; P<0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Abdominal fat mass is strongly independently associated with CVD risk factors in the present study. In contrast, gynoid fat mass was positively associated, whereas the ratio of gynoid to total fat mass was negatively associated with risk factors for CVD.
Wiklund
Peder
P
Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences, Umeå University, 90185 Umeå, Sweden.
Toss
Fredrik
F
Weinehall
Lars
L
Hallmans
Göran
G
Franks
Paul W
PW
Nordström
Anna
A
Nordström
Peter
P
D000005:Abdomen / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D001786:Blood Glucose