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Relationship between Abdominal Fat Compartments and Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Early Postmenopausal Women¹

Departments of Vascular Diseases (M.R., I.M.), Endocrinology (U.L.H., L.G.), and Radiology (C.T.), Lund University, Malmö University Hospital, S20502 Malmö, Sweden

Address correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Ingrid Mattiasson, Associate Professor, Department of Vascular Diseases, Malmö University Hospital, Ing.41, S20502 Malmö, Sweden. E-mail: ingrid.mattiasson{at}medforsk.mas.lu.se

The relationships between abdominal and pelvic fat compartments and glucose and lipid metabolism were investigated in early postmenopausal women. Fifty-five healthy, postmenopausal women aged 52–53 yr participated in the study. Fat distribution (intra-abdominal and sc abdominal fat, and intrapelvic and sc pelvic fat) was estimated by computed tomography. Insulin sensitivity was assessed by euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp. In a multiple regression analysis, the size of the intra-abdominal fat compartment was the only significant predictor of insulin sensitivity (r² = 24%; P = 0.0002). Plasma triglycerides were closely related to the size of the intra-abdominal fat compartment (r² = 26%; P < 0.0001), whereas plasma free fatty acid concentrations only correlated to the size of the sc abdominal fat compartment (r² = 18.5%, P = 0.001).

In early postmenopausal women the amount of the intra-abdominal fat strongly influences insulin sensitivity and plasma triglyceride levels, whereas plasma free fatty acids are closely related to the amount of the sc abdominal fat. Accordingly, from a metabolic standpoint it seems most essential to reduce intra-abdominal fat in postmenopausal women.

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