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Adiposity, insulin and lipid metabolism in post-menopausal women

International Journal of Obesity volume 26, pages 475–486 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate relationships between body fat and its distribution and carbohydrate and lipid tolerance using statistical comparisons in post-menopausal women.

DESIGN: Sequential meal, postprandial study (600 min) which included a mixed standard breakfast (30 g fat) and lunch (44 g fat) given at 0 and 270 min, respectively, after an overnight fast.

SUBJECTS: Twenty-eight post-menopausal women with a diverse range of body weight (body mass index (BMI), mean 27.2, range 20.5–38.8 kg/m2) and abdominal fat deposition (waist, mean 86.4, range 63.5–124.0 cm). Women with BMI <18 or >37 kg/m2, age>80 y and taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were excluded.

MEASUREMENTS: Anthropometric measurements were performed to assess total and regional fat deposits. The concentrations of plasma total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triacylglycerol (TAG), glucose, insulin (ins), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and apolipoprotein (apo) B-48 were analysed in plasma collected at baseline (fasted state) and at 13 postprandial time points for a 600 min period.

RESULTS: Insulin concentrations in the fasted and fed state were significantly correlated with all measures of adiposity (BMI, waist, waist–hip ratio (W/H), waist–height ratio (W/Ht) and sum of skinfold thickness (SSk)). After controlling for BMI, waist remained significantly and positively associated with fasted insulin (r=0.559) with waist contributing 53% to the variability after multiple regression analysis. After controlling for waist, BMI remained significantly correlated with postprandial (IAUC) insulin (r=0.535) contributing 66% of the variability of this measurement. No association was found between any measures of adiposity and glucose concentrations, although insulin concentration in relation to glucose concentration (glucose–insulin ratio) was significantly negatively correlated with all measures of adiposity. A significant positive correlation was found between fasted TAG and BMI (r=0.416), waist (r=0.393) and Ssk (r=0.457) and postprandial (AUC) TAG with BMI (r=0.385) and Ssk (r=0.406). A significantly higher postprandial apolipoprotein (apo) B-48 response was observed in those women with high BMI (>27 kg/m2). Fasting levels of NEFA were significantly and positively correlated with all measures of adiposity (except W/H). No association was found between cholesterol containing particles and any measure of adiposity.

CONCLUSION: Hyperinsulinaemia associated with increasing body fat and central fat distribution is associated with normal glucose but not TAG or NEFA concentrations in postmenopausal women.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank members of the Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition for their invaluable help on the postprandial study day. Thanks must also go to Helen Osborne for her help with sample analysis and Dr Mohamed-Ali for insulin analysis. We are also indebted to the subjects without whom the study would not have been possible.

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  1. Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, School of Food Biosciences, University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, UK

    JA Lovegrove, KDRR Silva, JW Wright & CM Williams

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  1. JA Lovegrove
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Correspondence to JA Lovegrove.

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Lovegrove, J., Silva, K., Wright, J. et al. Adiposity, insulin and lipid metabolism in post-menopausal women. Int J Obes 26, 475–486 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801963

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