Associations of Thigh and Abdominal Adipose Tissue Radiodensity with Glucose and Insulin in Nondiabetic African‐Ancestry Men

Abstract

Objective Decreased radiodensity of adipose tissue (AT) located in the visceral AT (VAT), subcutaneous AT (SAT), and intermuscular AT (IMAT) abdominal depots is associated with hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance independent of AT volumes. These associations were sought in African‐ancestry men, who have higher risk for type 2 diabetes and have been underrepresented in previous studies. Methods This cross‐sectional analysis included 505 nondiabetic men of African‐Caribbean ancestry (median age: 61 years; median BMI: 26.8 kg/m2) from the Tobago Health Study. AT volumes and radiodensities were assessed using computed tomography, including abdominal (VAT and SAT) and thigh (IMAT) depots. Associations between AT radiodensities were assessed with fasting serum glucose and insulin and with insulin resistance (updated homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, HOMA2‐IR). Results Higher radiodensity in any AT depot was associated with lower log‐insulin and log‐HOMA2‐IR (β range: −0.16 to −0.18 for each; all P < 0.0001). No AT radiodensity was associated with glucose. Thigh IMAT radiodensity associations were independent of, and similar in magnitude to, VAT radiodensities. Model fit statistics suggested that AT radiodensities were a better predictor for insulin and insulin resistance compared with AT volumes in individuals with overweight and obesity. Conclusions AT radiodensities at multiple depots are significantly associated with insulin and insulin resistance in African‐ancestry men.

Associations between Weight-Adjusted Waist Index and Abdominal Fat and Muscle Mass: Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

“…Interestingly, the correlation of abdominal muscle radiodensity with WWI (r=−0.516) was higher than that with BMI (r=−0.242) or WC (r=−0.300) (data not shown in the results). Because abdominal muscle radiodensity has been found to be an indicator of myosteatosis, metabolic derangement such as insulin resistance and alterations in adipokines, as well as mortality in cancer patients [17][18][19][20], the high correlation of WWI with abdominal muscle mass radiodensity suggests WWI could be an indicator of diverse health outcomes. Although we were unable to assess the associations of WWI with other organ radiodensities, such as liver radiodensity, these associations should be tested in future studies for the broader applications of WWI as a health indicator.…”

Replacing sedentary time with light activity was associated with less adiposity across several depots in African ancestry men

“…Subcutaneous adipose tissue was determined as adipose tissue beneath the skin and superficial to the abdominal or thigh muscular fascia [26]. Visceral adipose tissue was determined as adipose tissue within the peritoneal cavity [23].…”

Change in abdominal, but not femoral subcutaneous fat CT-radiodensity is associated with improved metabolic profile after bariatric surgery

“…The attenuation threshold value of À300 to À10HU was used to define the adipose tissue regions [10]. The mean pixel attenuation within the defined areas of the combined 47 slices was calculated to represent adipose tissue radiodensity (HU) [26].…”