title: Contributions of cardiorespiratory fitness and visceral adiposity to six-year changes in cardiometabolic risk markers in apparently healthy men and women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Both excess visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) levels are associated with a deteriorated cardiometabolic risk profile.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to examine the respective contributions of changes in VAT accumulation vs. changes in CRF to 6-yr longitudinal changes in cardiometabolic risk markers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective, population-based study with an average follow-up of 5.9 ± 0.8 yr. We followed 132 middle-aged participants from the Quebec Family Study (mean age, 35.3 ± 13.9 yr). VAT was measured by computed tomography, whereas the level of CRF was assessed by a submaximal physical working capacity test at baseline and at follow-up. A complete cardiometabolic risk profile, including systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting glucose and insulin levels, C-reactive protein (n = 72), as well as a standard lipoprotein-lipid profile, was obtained at baseline and at follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured changes in CRF, VAT, and cardiometabolic risk profile over 6 yr.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjusting for age and sex, 6-yr changes in VAT were negatively correlated with changes in CRF (r = -0.38; P < 0.001). In a multivariate model that included age, sex, changes in VAT, changes in CRF, as well as baseline levels of the above cardiometabolic risk factors, 6-yr changes in VAT were the most important predictor of the change in the metabolic syndrome score (R(2) = 13.2%; P < 0.001). Adding 6-yr changes in CRF levels significantly improved the predictability of the model (R(2) = 19.7%; P = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Changes in both VAT and CRF levels observed over 6 yr are associated with changes in parameters of the lipoprotein-lipid profile, glucose-insulin homeostasis, and inflammatory markers. Thus, maintaining a low level of VAT and a high level of CRF are important targets for maintenance of cardiometabolic health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, Canada G1V 0A6. caroline.rheaume@criucpq.ulaval.ca
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rhéaume
authors.forename: Benoit J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Arsenault
authors.forename: Marie-Pierre
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Dumas
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pérusse
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tremblay
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bouchard
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Poirier
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Després
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology*; D000886:Anthropometry; D015415:Biomarkers; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers