Differential effects of abdominal adipose tissue distribution on insulin sensitivity in black and white South African women.
Black South African women are more insulin resistant than BMI-matched white women. The objective of the study was to characterize the determinants of insulin sensitivity in black and white South African women matched for BMI. A total of 57 normal-weight (BMI 18-25 kg/m(2)) and obese (BMI > 30 kg/m(2)) black and white premenopausal South African women underwent the following measurements: body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), body fat distribution (computerized tomography (CT)), insulin sensitivity (S(I), frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test), dietary intake (food frequency questionnaire), physical activity (Global Physical Activity Questionnaire), and socioeconomic status (SES, demographic questionnaire). Black women were less insulin sensitive (4.4 +/- 0.8 vs. 9.5 +/- 0.8 and 3.0 +/- 0.8 vs. 6.0 +/- 0.8 x 10(-5)/min/(pmol/l), for normal-weight and obese women, respectively, P < 0.001), but had less visceral adipose tissue (VAT) (P = 0.051), more abdominal superficial subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) (P = 0.003), lower SES (P < 0.001), and higher dietary fat intake (P = 0.001) than white women matched for BMI. S(I) correlated with deep and superficial SAT in both black (R = -0.594, P = 0.002 and R = 0.495, P = 0.012) and white women (R = -0.554, P = 0.005 and R = -0.546, P = 0.004), but with VAT in white women only (R = -0.534, P = 0.005). In conclusion, body fat distribution is differentially associated with insulin sensitivity in black and white women. Therefore, the different abdominal fat depots may have varying metabolic consequences in women of different ethnic origins.
Goedecke
Julia H
JH
Department of Human Biology, UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. julia.goedecke@uct.ac.za
Levitt
Naomi S
NS
Lambert
Estelle V
EV
Utzschneider
Kristina M
KM
Faulenbach
Mirjam V
MV
Dave
Joel A
JA
West
Sacha
S
Victor
Hendriena
H
Evans
Juliet
J
Olsson
Tommy
T
Walker
Brian R
BR
Seckl
Jonathan R
JR
Kahn
Steven E
SE
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012923:Social Class; D013019:South Africa; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D007328:Insulin; D005947:Glucose