OBJECTIVE:To investigate in a population-based random sample of postmenopausal women the adjusted association of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) with coronary risk factors. DESIGN: Cross-sectional population-based random sample study. SUBJECTS: Ninety-eight postmenopausal women (age 50 -65 y). MEASUREMENTS: Visceral and subcutaneous fat areas by computer axial tomography, anthropometry, lipid profile, fasting glucose and insulin, diet, physical activity, smoking status and alcohol intake. RESULTS: Compared to women with low VAT, women with high VAT ( > 117.8 cm 2 ) had a less favorable metabolic profile with significantly higher fasting glucose (120 AE 50 vs 98 AE 39), insulin (7.9 AE 10 vs 5 AE 8), triglycerides (172 AE 69 vs 127 AE 72), apolipoprotein B (119 AE 24 vs 98 AE 32) and significantly lower HDL-C (38 AE 10 vs 46 AE 14) values in the whole sample (n ¼ 98). A similar profile was found in women without diabetes and hypertension (n ¼ 39). In multiple regression models, VAT explained a portion of the variance of TG (6.2%) in the entire sample and of total cholesterol (12.4%), LDL-C (15.8%), triglycerides (16.3%), apolipoprotein B (11.6%), and fasting glucose (28.4%) in the group of non-diabetic or hypertensive women. Our VAT cut-off point of 117.8 cm 2 corresponded to a waist circumference of 84 cm. CONCLUSION: Our results in a random population-based sample of postmenopausal women confirm the association of VAT with most coronary risk factors. These associations persisted after adjusting for diet, physical activity, smoking status and alcohol intake.
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