Ectopic fat and adipokines in metabolically benign overweight/obese women: the Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

It is unclear why despite a comparable cardiometabolic risk profile, "metabolically benign" overweight/obese individuals show an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease compared to normal weight individuals.

DESIGN AND METHODS:

In cross-sectional analyses, we compared levels of ectopic fat (epicardial, pericardial, and hepatic fat) and adipokines (leptin, soluble leptin receptor, and high molecular weight [HMW] adiponectin) among metabolically benign (MBO) and at-risk overweight/obese (ARO), and metabolically benign normal weight (MBNW) women, screened for the Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study. We defined "metabolically benign" with ≤ 1, and "at-risk" with ≥2 components of the metabolic syndrome.

RESULTS:

Compared to MBO women, ARO women had significantly elevated odds of being in the top tertile of epicardial fat (OR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.04-2.99), hepatic fat (OR: 1.90, 95% CI:1.12-3.24) and leptin (OR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.23-3.76), and the bottom tertile of HMW-adiponectin (OR: 2.90, 95% CI: 1.62-5.19). Compared to MBNW women, MBO women had significantly higher odds of being in the top tertile of epicardial fat (OR: 5.17, 95% CI: 3.22-8.29), pericardial fat (OR: 9.27, 95% CI: 5.52-15.56) and hepatic fat (OR: 2.72, 95% CI: 1.77-4.19) and the bottom tertile of HMW adiponectin levels (OR: 2.51, 95% CI: 1.60-3.94).

CONCLUSIONS:

Levels of ectopic fat and the adverse adipokine profile increase on a continuum of BMI, suggesting that the metabolically benign phenotype may be a transient state.

• Authors: Alexandra D Ogorodnikova, Unab I Khan, Aileen P McGinn, Irfan Zeb, Matthew J Budoff, S M Harman, Virginia M Miller, Eliot A Brinton, JoAnn E Manson, Howard N Hodis, George R Merriam, Marcelle I Cedars, Hugh S Taylor, Frederick Naftolin, Rogerio A Lobo, Nanette Santoro, Rachel P Wildman
• Journal: Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) (Obesity (Silver Spring)) Vol. 21 Issue 8 Pg. 1726-33 (Aug 2013) ISSN: 1930-739X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23670850 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 The Obesity Society.

Chemical References

• Adiponectin
• Leptin
• Receptors, Leptin

Topics

• Adiponectin (metabolism)
• Adipose Tissue (metabolism)
• Body Mass Index
• Cardiovascular Diseases (metabolism)
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Humans
• Leptin (metabolism)
• Life Style
• Logistic Models
• Metabolic Syndrome (metabolism)
• Middle Aged
• Obesity (metabolism)
• Overweight (metabolism)
• Pericardium (metabolism)
• Postmenopause
• Prospective Studies
• Receptors, Leptin (metabolism)