The relations of regional adipose tissue (AT) distribution measured by computed tomography (CT) to plasma insulin-glucose homeostasis and lipoprotein-lipid levels were studied in 58 obese and 29 lean control men. In the group of obese men, the visceral AT area measured by CT was positively correlated with fasting plasma triglyceride and insulin levels and with glucose and insulin areas under the curves measured during a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. Visceral AT area was also negatively associated with plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and HDL2 cholesterol levels. The relative accumulation of abdominal fat, estimated by the ratio of abdominal to femoral AT areas obtained by CT, was also a significant correlate of indices of carbohydrate metabolism and was the best univariate correlate of plasma lipoprotein levels. No significant associations were observed between the visceral AT area, the ratio of abdominal to femoral AT areas, and indices of carbohydrate and lipoprotein metabolism in the group of lean men. On the other hand, the subcutaneous abdominal AT area was a significant correlate of the glucose area under the curve in both groups of men, but this association was not independent from the percentage of total body fat. No relationship was observed between the femoral AT area and indices of carbohydrate metabolism in either lean or obese groups. In obese men, however, the femoral AT area was negatively correlated with plasma triglyceride concentration and positively correlated with plasma HDL and HDL2 cholesterol levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Equations have been developed for the prediction of deep abdominal adipose-tissue (AT) accumulation from anthropometric measurements in a sample of 110 men. An equation including the waist circumference and age could predict 74% of the variance in the amount of deep abdominal AT with an SEE of 29.6 cm2 (29.2% of the mean deep abdominal AT value), whereas another equation including the sagittal diameter, the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and age explained 76.6% of its variance with an SEE of 28.1 cm2 (27.7%). Equations excluding age as an independent variable were also developed. These results indicate that equations in which simple anthropometric measurements are used can provide further information in the assessment of the risk of cardiovascular disease in men. However, we must remember that our ability to predict the amount of deep abdominal AT from anthropometry is limited.

Numerous studies have shown that a high accumulation of abdominal fat is associated with metabolic complications and with an increased risk of coronary heart disease. The present study examined the effects of changes in body fatness and in the level of abdominal fat on metabolic variables in a sample of 13 obese premenopausal women, aged 38.8 +/- 5.3 (SD) yr. Women exercised for 90 min at approximately 55% of maximal aerobic power (VO2 max) four to five times a week for a period of 14 mo. The training program induced a significant increase in VO2 max and a mean reduction in body fat mass of 4.6 kg (P less than 0.01), with no change in fat-free mass. Measurement of adipose tissue areas by computed tomography indicated a greater loss of abdominal fat compared with midthigh adipose tissue (P less than 0.05). The training program also produced significant reductions in the insulinogenic index measured during an oral glucose tolerance test and in plasma cholesterol (Chol), low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-Chol, and apolipoprotein (apo) B levels (P less than 0.05). Training also significantly increased plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-apo A-I and HDL2-Chol levels and decreased plasma HDL3-Chol concentration (P less than 0.05). Whereas no change in postheparin plasma lipoprotein lipase activity was noted, a significant decrease in postheparin plasma hepatic triglyceride lipase activity was observed after training (P less than 0.005). Metabolic responses were not correlated with changes in VO2 max but were significantly correlated with the reduction in body fat mass and/or with the loss of deep abdominal fat.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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