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Diaz-Canestro C, Pentz B, Sehgal A, Yang R, Xu A, Montero D. Lean body mass and the cardiovascular system constitute a female-specific relationship. Sci Transl Med 2022; 14:eabo2641. [PMID: 36260693 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abo2641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Recent evidence points toward a link between lean body mass (LBM) and cardiovascular capacity in women. This study aimed at determining the sex-specific relationship of LBM with central and peripheral circulatory variables in healthy women and men (n=70) matched by age (60±12 years versus 58±15 years), physical activity, and cardiovascular risk factors. Regional (legs, arms, and trunk) and whole-body (total) body composition were assessed via dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Cardiac structure, function, and central/peripheral hemodynamics were measured via transthoracic echocardiography and the volume-clamp method at rest and peak incremental exercise. Regression analyses determined sex-specific relationships between LBM and cardiovascular variables. Regional and total LBM were lower in women than men (P<0.001), with little overlap between sexes. Leg and arm LBM positively associated with left ventricular (LV) internal resting dimensions in women (r≥0.53, P≤0.002) but not men (P≥0.156). Leg, arm, and total LBM only associated with LV relaxation in women (r≥0.43, P≤0.013). All LBM variables strongly associated with LV volumes at peak exercise in women (r≥0.54, P≤0.001) but not men and negatively associated with total peripheral resistance at peak exercise in women (r≥0.43, P≤0.023). Adjustment by adiposity-related or cardiovascular risk factors did not alter results. In conclusion, leg and arm LBM independently associate with internal cardiac dimensions, ventricular relaxation, and systemic vascular resistance in a sex-specific manner, with these relationships exclusively present in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candela Diaz-Canestro
- Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 279, Canada.,State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam 999077, Hong Kong.,Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Brandon Pentz
- Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Arshia Sehgal
- Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Ranyao Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam 999077, Hong Kong.,Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Aimin Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam 999077, Hong Kong.,Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam 999077, Hong Kong.,Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam 999077, Hong Kong
| | - David Montero
- Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 279, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam 999077, Hong Kong
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Diaz-Canestro C, Pentz B, Sehgal A, Montero D. Sex dimorphism in cardiac and aerobic capacities: The influence of body composition. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2021; 29:1749-1759. [PMID: 34734496 DOI: 10.1002/oby.23280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Revised: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The contribution of body composition to sex differences in strong prognostic cardiorespiratory variables remains unresolved. This study aimed to elucidate whether body composition determines sex differences in cardiac and oxygen (O2 ) uptake responses to incremental exercise. METHODS Healthy, moderately active women and men (n = 60, age = 60.7 [12.3] years) matched by age and cardiorespiratory fitness were included. Body composition was determined via dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Transthoracic echocardiography and O2 uptake were assessed at rest and throughout incremental exercise with established methods. Major cardiac and pulmonary outcomes were normalized by body surface area (BSA), total lean body mass (LBM), or leg LBM. RESULTS Women presented with smaller anthropometrical indices (height, weight, BSA) and LBM compared with men (p < 0.001). Peak exercise cardiac dimensions and output (i.e., peak cardiac outout [Qpeak ]), commonly normalized by BSA, were reduced in women relative to men (p ≤ 0.019). Cardiac sex differences were abolished after normalization by total or leg LBM (p ≥ 0.115). Strong linear relationships of total and leg LBM with Qpeak and peak oxygen uptake were detected exclusively in women (r ≥ 0.53, p ≤ 0.003), independent of body fat percentage. CONCLUSIONS Total and leg LBM stand out as strong independent determinants of cardiac and aerobic capacities in women, regardless of body fat percentage, relationships that are not present in age- and fitness-matched men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candela Diaz-Canestro
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Brandon Pentz
- Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Arshia Sehgal
- Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - David Montero
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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