Association between individual fat depots and cardio-metabolic traits in normal- and overweight children, adolescents and adults

Abstract

Objectives:To determine age-related associations between fat mass (FM), regional fat depots and cardiometabolic traits in normal- and overweight children, adolescents and adults.Methods:Detailed body composition (regional subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue; SAT, VAT) by whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), FM and fat-free mass by air-displacement plethysmography, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), plasma glucose and plasma insulin were measured in 433 subjects (BMI: 23.6 (21.0–27.7); 151 children and adolescents, aged 6–18 years, 150 young adults, aged 18–30 years and 132 adults, aged 30–60 years). Data were derived from pooled data of the ‘Reference Center for Body Composition’ in Kiel, Germany. Insulin resistance was determined by the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Partial correlations and multivariate linear regression analyses were used to evaluate the associations between body composition and cardiometabolic traits. A descriptive approach was used to demonstrate age-dependent differences in associations between body fat depots and insulin resistance, independent of BMI.Results:FM, SAT, and VAT increased from childhood to adulthood with low VAT in children and adolescents. When compared to children, TG was higher in adults. HDL and DBP did not differ between age groups. Insulin resistance was highest in male adolescents and female young adults. Associations between body fat depots and cardiometabolic traits were seen after puberty with no associations in pre- and intrapubertal children. When compared to FM, SAT and VAT had the strongest association with insulin resistance in adults. This association was independent of BMI.Conclusions:Associations between individual body fat depots and most cardiometabolic traits became evident after puberty only. The strongest associations were observed between insulin resistance and abdominal fat in adults. The impact of VAT was independent of BMI.

Metabolic Risk Factors Associated with Visceral and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue in a Sex‐Specific Manner in Seven‐Year‐Olds

“…In similar multivariate models for triglycerides, VAT and WC only remained significant in girls, and the association between VAT and triglycerides has previously been reported in children with obesity . In contrast, one study did not find any association between VAT and triglycerides in children with normal weight , but others have shown associations in postpubertal children .…”

Prematurity With Extrauterine Growth Restriction Increases the Risk of Higher Levels of Glucose, Low-Grade of Inflammation and Hypertension in Prepubertal Children

“…Changes in adipose tissue during normal puberty are known (58). The percentage of visceral fat tends to increase sharply from puberty onwards (58,59), and associations between body fat depots and cardiometabolic traits have been reported especially after puberty (59). Moreover, it is widely known that insulin resistance appears during puberty (58).…”

Sex as a moderator of body composition following a randomized controlled lifestyle intervention among Latino youth with obesity

“…Body fat is strongly associated with insulin resistance and beta‐cell dysfunction among adolescents . Further, greater accumulation of abdominal fat is associated with a decline in metabolic health, specifically greater visceral adipose tissue is associated with reduction in beta‐cell function and higher trunk fat is correlated with insulin resistance . Therefore, not only does the amount but the distribution of body fat affects T2D risk, and the reduction in abdominal fat may be sex‐specific .…”