Assessment of adipose tissue distribution by computed axial tomography in obese women: association with body density and anthropometric measurements

Abstract

1.Abdominal obesity is associated with numerous metabolic complications. Deep abdominal adipose tissue is critical in the association between the level of abdominal obesity and cardiovascular risk factors.2. Adipose tissue localization was assessed by computed axial tomography (CAT), and its association with body density and anthropometric measurements was investigated in a sample of fifty-one obese women (percentage body fat 45.9 (SD 5.6)) aged 35.7 (SD 5.5) years. The CAT scans were performed at three levels: lower chest, abdomen and mid-thigh.3. The total adipose tissue volume computed from these three scans was highly correlated with body fat mass (r 0.94, P < 0.001). The proportion of deep abdominal fat as measured by the ratio of deep: total adipose tissue areas at the abdominal level was not significantly correlated with body fat mass, but it was moderately associated with the ratio of waist: hip circumferences (WHR) (r 0.49, P i 0.001). The absolute amount of deep abdominal fat was, however, significantly correlated with body fat mass (r 0.72, P < 0.001).4. The subscapular (r 0.38) and the abdominal (r 0.38) skinfolds were the only two skinfolds that were significantly associated with the proportion of deep abdominal fat (P < 0.01). These skinfolds were also those which showed the highest correlation with the absofute amount of deep abdominal fat (r 065, P < 0-001, for both skinfolds). 5.A three-site CAT-scan procedure can be used for the estimation of body fat mass in premenopausal obese women.6. In these obese women, there was no significant association between total adiposity and the proportion of deep adipose tissue at the abdominal level.7. In premenopausal obese women, the absolute amount of deep abdominal fat can be predicted from anthropometric measurements with more accuracy than the relative amount of deep abdominal fat.

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“…Anthropometric measurements were performed following standardised techniques [5]. Measurement of L4-L5 abdominal adipose tissue areas was performed by computed tomography [6]. Complete fasting plasma lipoprotein-lipid profile was obtained as described [4] and LDL particle size was measured by non-denaturing polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis [7].…”

High normal 2-hour plasma glucose is associated with insulin sensitivity and secretion that may predispose to type 2 diabetes

“…Computed tomography Measurements of abdominal adipose tissue areas were performed by computed tomography (CT) at the abdominal level between the L4 and L5 vertebrae with a Siemens Somatom DRH scanner (Erlangen, Germany), following the procedures of Sjöström et al as previously described [23,24].…”

Circulating endocannabinoid levels, abdominal adiposity and related cardiometabolic risk factors in obese men

“…Measurement of abdominal AT areas was performed by computed tomography with a Siemens Somatom DHR scanner (Erlanger, Germany) as described previously. 11 Plasma lipoprotein-lipid variables Blood samples were collected in the morning from an antecubital vein into vacutainer tubes containing EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) (Miles Pharmaceuticals, Rexdale, Ontario, Canada) after a 12-h overnight fast for the measurement of plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels. Cholesterol and triglyceride levels were determined in plasma and lipoprotein fractions on Technicon RA-500 (Bayer), and enzymatic reagents were obtained from Randox.…”