scholarly journals The Metabolic Syndrome in Obese Postmenopausal Women: Relationship to Body Composition, Visceral Fat, and Inflammation

2004 ◽  
Vol 89 (11) ◽  
pp. 5517-5522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tongjian You ◽  
Alice S. Ryan ◽  
Barbara J. Nicklas

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate whether aerobic fitness, body composition, body fat distribution, and inflammation are different in obese postmenopausal women with and without the metabolic syndrome (MS), and whether the severity of MS is associated with these characteristics. Fifty-eight women (age, 59 ± 1 yr; body mass index, 33.0 ± 0.6 kg/m2) completed testing of maximal aerobic capacity, body composition (fat mass, lean mass, and percent body fat), body fat distribution (sc and visceral fat areas, and regional adipocyte sizes), and inflammation (C-reactive protein, IL-6, and TNF-α, and their soluble receptors). Lean mass (44.4 ± 0.9 vs. 41.2 ± 0.9 kg; P < 0.05), visceral fat area (180 ± 10 vs. 135 ± 7 cm2; P < 0.001), and plasma soluble TNF receptor 1 (sTNFR1; 860 ± 25 vs. 765 ± 42 pg/ml; P < 0.05) were higher in women with the MS (n = 27) than in those without the MS (n = 31). The number of MS components was directly related to weight, body mass index, fat mass, lean mass, visceral fat area, and plasma sTNFR1. We conclude that obese older women with the MS are characterized by high lean mass, high visceral fat, and elevated sTNFR1, and the severity of the MS is associated with body composition, visceral adiposity, and inflammation.

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1035
Author(s):  
Khin Thandar Htun ◽  
Jie Pan ◽  
Duanghathai Pasanta ◽  
Montree Tungjai ◽  
Chatchanok Udomtanakunchai ◽  
...  

Background: Obesity or being overweight is a medical condition of abnormal body fat accumulation which is associated with a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome. The distinct body fat depots on specific parts of the anatomy have unique metabolic properties and different types of regional excessive fat distribution can be a disease hazard. The aim of this study was to identify the metabolome and molecular imaging phenotypes among a young adult population. Methods: The amount and distribution of fat and lipid metabolites profile in the abdomen, liver, and calf muscles of 46 normal weight, 17 overweight, and 13 obese participants were acquired using MRI and MR spectroscopy (MRS), respectively. The serum metabolic profile was obtained using proton NMR spectroscopy. NMR spectra were integrated into seven integration regions, which reflect relative metabolites. Results: A significant metabolic disorder symptom appeared in the overweight and obese group, and increased lipid deposition occurred in the abdomen, hepatocytes, and muscles that were statistically significant. Overall, the visceral fat depots had a marked influence on dyslipidemia biomarkers, blood triglyceride (r = 0.592, p < 0.001), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = −0.484, p < 0.001). Intrahepatocellular lipid was associated with diabetes predictors for hemoglobin (HbA1c%; r = 0.379, p < 0.001) and for fasting blood sugar (r = 0.333, p < 0.05). The lipid signals in serum triglyceride and glucose signals gave similar correspondence to biochemical lipid profiles. Conclusions: This study proves the association between alteration in metabolome in young adults, which is the key population for early prevention of obesity and metabolic syndrome. This study suggests that dyslipidemia prevalence is influenced mainly by the visceral fat depot, and liver fat depot is a key determinant for glucose metabolism and hyperglycemia. Moreover, noninvasive advanced molecular imaging completely elucidated the impact of fat distribution on the anthropometric and laboratory parameters, especially indices of the metabolic syndrome biomarkers in young adults.


2015 ◽  
Vol 40 (7) ◽  
pp. 695-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eve Normandin ◽  
Eric Doucet ◽  
Rémi Rabasa-Lhoret ◽  
Martin Brochu

Obesity is a heterogeneous condition, since the metabolic profile may differ greatly from one individual to another. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of a 6-month diet-induced weight loss program on body composition and the metabolic profile in obese individuals displaying different obesity phenotypes. Secondary analyses were done on 129 obese (% body fat: 46% ± 4%) postmenopausal women (age: 57 ± 4 years). Outcome measures included body composition, body fat distribution, glucose homeostasis, fasting lipids, and blood pressure. Obesity phenotypes were determined based on lean body mass (LBM) index (LBMI = LBM/height2) and visceral fat (VF) accumulation, as follows: 1, lower VF and lower LBMI (n = 35); 2, lower VF and higher LBMI (n = 19); 3, higher VF and lower LBMI (n = 14); and 4, higher VF and higher LBMI (n = 61). All groups had significantly improved measures of body composition after the intervention (P < 0.0001). Greater decreases in LBM and LBMI were observed in the higher LBMI groups than in the lower LBMI groups (P < 0.0001). Similarly, decreases in VF were greater in the higher VF groups than in the lower VF groups (P < 0.05). Overall, fasting insulin levels and glucose disposal improved following the intervention, with higher LBMI groups showing a trend for greater improvements (P = 0.06 and 0.07, respectively). Overall, no difference was observed among the different obesity phenotypes regarding improvements in the metabolic profile in response to weight loss. Individuals displaying higher VF or higher LBMI at baseline experienced significantly greater decreases for these variables after the intervention.


2014 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena Moreira ◽  
Betânia Passos ◽  
Josiane Rocha ◽  
Vivianne Reis ◽  
André Carneiro ◽  
...  

Abstract The object of the study was to analyze the relationship between aerobic fitness and body composition in postmenopausal women. We hypothesized that postmenopausal women that had higher adiposity had lower cardiorespiratory capacity, regardless of the characteristics of menopause. The sample included 208 women (57.57 ± 6.62 years), whose body composition and the basal metabolic rate were evaluated by octopolar bioimpedance (InBody 720) and the oxygen uptake by the modified Bruce protocol. Most of the sample showed obesity and a high visceral fat area. The visceral fat area and the basal metabolic rate explained 30% of the variation of oxygen uptake, regardless of age, time, nature or hormone therapy. The values of the latter variables were reduced in the presence of high central adiposity (-6.16 ml/kg/min) and the basal metabolic rate of less than 1238 kcal/day (-0.18 ml/kg/min). The women with oxygen uptake above 30.94 ml/kg/min showed lower values of total and central adiposity when compared with other groups. With an increase of aerobic fitness, there was a growing tendency of the average values of the soft lean mass index, with differences between the groups low-high and moderate-high. These results suggest worsening of the cardiorespiratory condition with an increase of central adiposity and a decrease of the BMR, regardless of age and menopause characteristics.


2004 ◽  
Vol 287 (1) ◽  
pp. H414-H418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guy E. Alvarez ◽  
Tasha P. Ballard ◽  
Stacy D. Beske ◽  
Kevin P. Davy

We tested the hypothesis that muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) would not differ in subcutaneously obese (SUBOB) and nonobese (NO) men with similar levels of abdominal visceral fat despite higher plasma leptin concentrations in the former. We further hypothesized that abdominal visceral fat would be the strongest body composition- or regional fat distribution-related correlate of MSNA among these individuals. To accomplish this, we measured MSNA (via microneurography), body composition (via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), and abdominal fat distribution (via computed tomography) in 15 NO (body mass index ≤ 25 kg/m2; 22.4 ± 1.4 yr) and 9 SUBOB (25 ≤ body mass index ≤ 35 kg/m2; 23.4 ± 2.1 yr) sedentary men. As expected, body mass (94 ± 4 vs. 71 ± 2 kg), total fat mass (25 ± 2 vs. 12 ± 1 kg), and abdominal subcutaneous fat (307 ± 36 vs. 132 ± 12 cm2) were significantly higher in the SUBOB group compared with NO peers. However, the level of abdominal visceral fat did not differ significantly in the two groups (69 ± 7 vs. 55 ± 5 cm2). MSNA was not different between SUBOB and NO men (23 ± 3 vs. 24 ± 2 bursts/min; P > 0.05, respectively) despite ∼2.6-fold higher ( P < 0.05) plasma leptin concentration in the SUBOB men. Furthermore, abdominal visceral fat was the only body composition- or regional fat distribution-related correlate ( r = 0.45; P < 0.05) of MSNA in the pooled sample. In addition, abdominal visceral fat was related to MSNA in NO ( r = 0.58; P = 0.0239) but not SUBOB ( r = 0.39; P = 0.3027) men. Taken together with our previous observations, our findings suggest that the relation between obesity and MSNA is phenotype dependent. The relation between abdominal visceral fat and MSNA was evident in NO but not in SUBOB men and at levels of abdominal visceral fat below the level typically associated with elevated cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk. Our observations do not support an obvious role for leptin in contributing to sympathetic neural activation in human obesity and, in turn, are inconsistent with the concept of selective leptin resistance.


2014 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aruna D Pradhan

Abstract BACKGROUND The metabolic syndrome is a clinical condition characterized by the presence of multiple interrelated risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Component features include dysglycemia, increased blood pressure, increased triglycerides, decreased HDL cholesterol concentrations, and obesity (in particular, abdominal obesity). The underlying biology, optimal diagnostic criteria, and clinical implications, once diagnosed, have been matter for intense debate. Despite these areas of controversy, there is now general consensus that the observed risk factor clustering signifies heightened cardiovascular risk. CONTENT The influence of sex on the clinical expression and pathophysiology of the syndrome is underrecognized, and is an issue of increasing importance given the alarming increase in prevalence among young women. This minireview will highlight sex differences in the epidemiology, etiology, biology, and clinical expression of the metabolic syndrome. In particular, key sex differences include distinctions in (a) prevalence of dysglycemia, (b) body fat distribution, (c) adipocyte size and function, (d) hormonal regulation of body weight and adiposity, and (e) the influence of estrogen decline on risk factor clustering. SUMMARY Accumulated and emerging data convincingly demonstrate that significant heterogeneity exists between men and women developing the metabolic syndrome, in large part related to hormonal regulation of body fat distribution and attendant metabolic abnormalities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giada Ostinelli ◽  
Jerzy Adamski ◽  
André Tchernof

Abstract Background: Excess visceral adipose tissue accumulation on anatomical structures such as the greater omentum and mesentery are strong predictors of obesity-associated comorbidities (1). High glucocorticoid levels have been associated with body fat distribution and preferential visceral fat accumulation as well as features of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) (2). These effects are thought to be mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor, a nuclear receptor showing affinity for both glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. In this study, we examined plasma concentrations of glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids in women with or without the MetS. In addition, we assessed the ability of these steroids to predict fat accumulation and features of the MetS. Methods: In a sample of 49 women (age 47 ± 4.99 years; BMI 26.4 ± 4.70 kg/m2), plasma concentrations of cortisol, 11-deoxycortisol, cortisone, aldosterone, corticosterone and 11-deoxycorticosterone were analyzed by electrospray ionization-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy (ESI-LC-MS/MS). Metabolic parameters were assessed to establish the presence of the MetS using NCEP-III criteria. Subcutaneous and visceral adipocyte cell size was measured by histomorphometry. Results: We found HDL-triglycerides to be positively associated with levels of 11-deoxycorticosterone, 11-deoxycortisol, corticosterone, cortisone and cortisol (p&lt;0.05 for all). 11-deoxycorticosterone concentration was also negatively associated with waist circumference (-0.294, p&lt;0.05), LDL-cholesterol and LDL-triglyceride content (-0.264 and -0.362, p&lt;0.05) whereas cortisone level was positively associated with fasting glucose (0.3, p&lt;0.05). Our model including mineralocorticoids predicted systolic blood pressure (R2=0.303), while the one including glucocorticoids predicted HDL-cholesterol (R2=0.495). In addition, as expected, we found that women with the MetS were characterized by significantly higher percentage body fat and displayed subcutaneous and visceral adipocyte hypertrophy (p&lt;0.05). Interestingly, women with the MetS also showed a trend for lower plasma cortisol concentrations (p=0.07). Conclusion: Our data suggest that glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids are associated with individual components of the MetS in women. (1) Tchernof et al.(2013), Physiol Rev, 93(1); (2) Constantinopoulos et al., (2015), Eur J Endocrinol, 172(1)


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