Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry Compared with Anthropometry in Relation to Cardio-Metabolic Risk Factors in a Young Adult Population: Is the 'Gold Standard' Tarnished?
OBJECTIVE
Assessment of adiposity using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) has been considered more advantageous in comparison to anthropometry for predicting cardio-metabolic risk in the older population, by virtue of its ability to distinguish total and regional fat. Nonetheless, there is increasing uncertainty regarding the relative superiority of DXA and little comparative data exist in young adults. This study aimed to identify which measure of adiposity determined by either DXA or anthropometry is optimal within a range of cardio-metabolic risk factors in young adults.


RESULTS
1138 adults aged 20 years were assessed by DXA and standard anthropometry from the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study. Cross-sectional linear regression analyses were performed. Waist to height ratio was superior to any DXA measure with HDL-C. BMI was the superior model in relation to blood pressure than any DXA measure. Midriff fat mass (DXA) and waist circumference were comparable in relation to glucose. For all the other cardio-metabolic variables, anthropometric and DXA measures were comparable. DXA midriff fat mass compared with BMI or waist hip ratio was the superior measure for triglycerides, insulin and HOMA-IR.


CONCLUSIONS
Although midriff fat mass (measured by DXA) was the superior measure with insulin sensitivity and triglycerides, the anthropometric measures were better or equal with various DXA measures for majority of the cardio-metabolic risk factors. Our findings suggest, clinical anthropometry is generally as useful as DXA in the evaluation of the individual cardio-metabolic risk factors in young adults.
School of Medicine and Pharmacology, Royal Perth Hospital Unit, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
Denise L
DL
Demmer
School of Medicine and Pharmacology, Royal Perth Hospital Unit, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
Lawrence J
LJ
Beilin
Institute for Health Research, The University of Notre Dame Australia, Perth, Australia.
Beth
B
Hands
School of Medicine and Pharmacology, Royal Perth Hospital Unit, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
Sally
S
Burrows
School of Women's and Infants Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
Craig E
CE
Pennell
Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Stephen J
SJ
Lye
School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
Jennifer A
JA
Mountain
School of Medicine and Pharmacology, Royal Perth Hospital Unit, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
Trevor A
TA
Mori
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D050154:Adiposity; D000886:Anthropometry; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D055105:Waist Circumference; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL