Thigh fat and muscle each contribute to excess cardiometabolic risk in South Asians, independent of visceral adipose tissue.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To compare fat distribution and associations between fat depots and cardiometabolic traits in South Asians and Europeans.

Methods

Five hundred and fourteen South Asians and 669 Europeans, aged 56-86. Questionnaires, record review, blood testing, and coronary artery calcification scores provided diabetes and clinical plus subclinical coronary heart disease (CHD) diagnoses. Abdominal visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue, thigh subcutaneous adipose tissue (TSAT), intermuscular and intramuscular thigh fat and thigh muscle were measured by CT.

Results

Accounting for body size, South Asians had greater VAT and TSAT than Europeans, but less thigh muscle. Associations between depots and disease were stronger in South Asians than Europeans. In multivariable

SUBMITTER: Eastwood SV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4150020 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature