Lean mass appears to be more strongly associated with bone health than fat mass in urban black South African women

Although cross-sectional studies have shown that obesity is associated with lower concentrations of large high-density lipoprotein (HDL) subclasses, it is unknown if changes in HDL subclasses are related to changes in body fat and its distribution over time. We therefore assessed changes in HDL subclass distribution over a 5.5-year free-living follow-up period in 24 black South African women. At baseline and follow-up, body composition and body fat distribution were measured using anthropometry, dual X-ray absorptiometry, and computerized tomography. HDL subclass distribution was quantified using Lipoprint®. Over the 5.5-year follow-up period, body fat (+17.3 ± 4.5 kg,p<0.05) and trunk fat mass (+7.4 ± 1.9%, % fat mass, FM,p<0.05) increased, while leg fat mass (−2.53 ± 0.56%, % FM,p<0.001) and the distribution of large (−6.43 ± 2.12%,p<0.05) HDL subclasses decreased. A percentage decrease in large HDL subclasses was associated with a percentage increase in central fat mass (visceral adipose tissue (VAT) area,p<0.05) and a percentage decrease in peripheral fat mass (leg fat mass). These preliminary findings suggest that a relative redistribution of body fat from the periphery to the abdominal region were associated with a decrease HDL subclass size in black South African women and provide a novel link between body fat distribution and lipidology in this population.

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Nutrient Patterns and Body Composition Parameters of Black South African Women

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13010006 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 6

Author(s):

Caroline B. T. Makura-Kankwende ◽

Philippe J. Gradidge ◽

Nigel J. Crowther ◽

Shane A. Norris ◽

Tinashe Chikowore

Keyword(s):

Body Composition ◽

Adipose Tissue ◽

South African ◽

Body Fat ◽

Lean Mass ◽

African Women ◽

Whole Body ◽

Black South African ◽

Nutrient Patterns ◽

South African Women

Obesity is more prevalent in black South African women than men. However, little is known about the nutrient patterns associated with body composition indices in black African women. Principle Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to 25 nutrients derived from quantified food frequency questionnaires (QFFQs) in 498 middle aged black South African women. Three nutrient patterns, the plant driven, animal driven and Vitamin C, sugar and potassium driven nutrient patterns, accounted for 59% of the variance of nutrient intake. Linear models of the body composition parameters as outcome variables indicated that a standard deviation increase in the animal driven nutrient pattern was significantly associated with increases in body mass index (BMI) (1.29 kg·m−2 (95% CI, 0.54–2.04; p = 0.001), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) (26.30 cm2 (7.97–44.63); p = 0.005), visceral adipose tissue (VAT) (9.88 cm2 (5.13–14.63); p < 0.001), VAT/SAT ratio (0.01 (0.00–0.02); p = 0.018), whole body fat mass index (0.74 kg·m−2 (0.25–1.22); p = 0.003), and whole body lean mass index (0.53 kg·m−2 (0.23–0.83); p = 0.001). An increase in plant driven nutrient pattern was significantly associated with an increase in SAT of 20.45 cm2 (0.47–40.43); p = 0.045. This study demonstrates that animal driven nutrient pattern, characterised by the consumption of more animal protein and fat nutrients, similar to the western diet is associated with increased body fat and lean mass.

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Effect of exercise training on insulin sensitivity, hyperinsulinemia and ectopic fat in black South African women: a randomized controlled trial

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/eje-19-0957 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 183 (1) ◽

pp. 51-61 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Melony C Fortuin-de Smidt ◽

Amy E Mendham ◽

Jon Hauksson ◽

Olah Hakim ◽

Darko Stefanovski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Insulin Sensitivity ◽

Exercise Training ◽

South African ◽

Fat Mass ◽

African Women ◽

Control Group ◽

Ectopic Fat ◽

Black South African ◽

South African Women

Objective We investigated the effects of a 12-week exercise intervention on insulin sensitivity (SI) and hyperinsulinemia and associated changes in regional and ectopic fat. Research design and methods Healthy, black South African women with obesity (mean age 23 ± 3.5 years) and of isiXhosa ancestry were randomised into a 12-week aerobic and resistance exercise training group (n = 23) and a no exercise group (control, n = 22). Pre and post-intervention testing included assessment of SI, insulin response to glucose (AIRg), insulin secretion rate (ISR), hepatic insulin extraction (FEL) and disposition index (DI) (AIRg × SI) (frequently sampled i.v. glucose tolerance test); fat mass and regional adiposity (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry); hepatic, pancreatic and skeletal muscle fat content and abdominal s.c. and visceral adipose tissue volumes (MRI). Results Exercise training increased VO2peak (mean ± s.d.: 24.9 ± 2.42 to 27.6 ± 3.39 mL/kg/min, P < 0.001), SI (2.0 (1.2–2.8) to 2.2 (1.5–3.7) (mU/l)−1 min−1, P = 0.005) and DI (median (interquartile range): 6.1 (3.6–7.1) to 6.5 (5.6–9.2) × 103 arbitrary units, P = 0.028), and decreased gynoid fat mass (18.5 ± 1.7 to 18.2 ± 1.6%, P < 0.001) and body weight (84.1 ± 8.7 to 83.3 ± .9.7 kg, P = 0.038). None of these changes were observed in the control group, but body weight increased (P = 0.030). AIRg, ISR and FEL, VAT, SAT and ectopic fat were unaltered after exercise training. The increase in SI and DI were not associated with changes in regional or ectopic fat. Conclusion Exercise training increased SI independent from changes in hyperinsulinemia and ectopic fat, suggesting that ectopic fat might not be a principal determinant of insulin resistance in this cohort.

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