title: Relation between visceral fat and carotid intimal media thickness in Mexican postmenopausal women: a preliminary report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between visceral fat and carotid IMT (intima media thickness) in Mexican postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 71 postmenopausal women divided in two groups: group 1, IMT > 1 mm and group 2, IMT ≤ 1 mm, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), waist hip ratio (WHR), visceral and subcutaneous fats and carotid IMT were analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used and the comparison among those with abnormal and normal IMT was carried out using Mann-Whitney U test; also Spearman's correlation analysis was done.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When comparing group 1 (n = 9, 12.7%) with group 2 (n = 62, 87.3%), it was found that the subcutaneous fat, visceral fat and systolic blood pressure were significantly greater in group 1 (p < 0.018, p < 0.001 and p < 0.006, respectively), and also in this group there was a correlation between BMI and subcutaneous fat (ρ = 0.686, p < 0.041) and between visceral fat and the systolic blood pressure (ρ = 0.712, p < 0.031). In group 2, there was a correlation between IMT and diastolic blood pressure (ρ = 0.251, p < 0.049).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subcutaneous and visceral fat have an unfavorable effect in the carotid IMT and in blood pressure.
authors: Chairman of the Research Division in Health, UMAE Gynecology and Obstetrics Hospital "Luis Castelazo Ayala", Social Security Mexican Institute, Mexico DF, Mexico.
authors: Sebastián
authors: S
authors: Carranza-Lira
authors: Obstetrics and Gynecology Resident, UMAE Gynecology and Obstetrics Hospital "Luis Castelazo Ayala", Social Security Mexican Institute, Mexico DF, Mexico.
authors: Yessica Mireya Moreno
authors: YM
authors: Azpilcueta
authors: Ultrasound Service Staff, UMAE Gynecology and Obstetrics Hospital "Luis Castelazo Ayala", Social Security Mexican Institute, Mexico DF, Mexico.
authors: Sergio Rosales
authors: SR
authors: Ortiz
keywords: blood pressure; carotid; intima media thickness; postmenopause; subcutaneous fat; visceral fat