Objective
Reports regarding the associations between childhood maltreatment (CM) and body fat composition remain heterogeneous in humans although it is indicated in preclinical studies. Moreover, the effects of CM subtypes on different types of body fat are unclear. Thus this study is to determine the associations between CM and its subtypes with body fat and to explore the potential pathways.
Methods
Participants were assessed for a history of CM by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, and were divided into the CM group (with CM exposures) and non-CM group (without CM exposures). Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Subjects provided salivary and blood samples.
Results
Compared with the non-CM group, CM subjects had greater visceral fat mass (1136±160g vs. 836±116g, p<0.05) but not total body fat, android fat, body mass index or waist-to-hip ratio. Moreover, CM subjects had a blunted cortisol awakening response and elevated inflammatory factors. Correlation analysis indicated that CM subtypes had differential effects on visceral adiposity and cortisol awakening response.
Conclusions
Our results suggest that CM exposure is linked with increased visceral fat deposition, and the perturbation of the HPA axis activity and activation of the immune system may be 2 potential pathways that explain this relationship.
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