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Independent Genetic Factors Determine the Amount and Distribution of Fat in Women after the Menopause¹

Twin Research Unit (T.D.S., K.B., P.J.K.), St. Thomas’ Hospital, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom; Garvan Institute of Medical Research (K.S., T.V.N., L.V.C.), Sydney, Australia; and Department of Endocrinology (L.V.C., P.J.K.), St. Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney NSW 2010, Australia

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Paul Kelly, St. Vincent’s Clinic, Victoria Street, Sydney NSW 2010, Australia. E-mail: paulk{at}infinet.net.au

Central adiposity is a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease in women. We studied postmenopausal twins to explore the strength and the relationship between genetic influences on body fat and its distribution in a group where cardiovascular disease is the major cause of mortality. Healthy twin women were recruited from a national media campaign. One hundred nineteen monozygotic (MZ) and 97 dizygotic twin pairs were studied (mean ± SE age 60 ± 0.3 yr, 10 ± 0.4 yr post menopausal). Total and central body fat were measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Intrapair resemblance was significantly greater in MZ pairs for total fat (MZ vs. dizygotic, r = 0.70 ± 0.05 vs. r = 0.46 ± 0.08, P = 0.005) and central fat (r = 0.62 ± 0.06 vs. r = 0.35 ± 0.09, P = 0.005), suggesting a strong genetic influence on these traits. Model-fitting analysis indicated that genetic factors contribute up to 60% of total population variance in both total and central body fat. The heritability of central fat remained, after adjustment for the heritability of total fat, suggesting an independent genetic influence on fat distribution. These results were unchanged after adjusting for the effects of estrogen replacement and smoking.

In conclusion, total adiposity and central abdominal fat mass in normal postmenopausal women are under strong genetic influence. The data suggest that some of the genes responsible for central adiposity and its metabolic sequelae will be different from those responsible for total adiposity.

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