The Relationship of Abdominal Fat Mass Assessed by Helical or Conventional Computed Tomography to Serum Leptin Concentration

Effect of hypoxic training on inflammatory and metabolic risk factors: a crossover study in healthy subjects

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of hypoxic physical exercise on metabolic syndrome (MS) risk markers and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) and to compare its effects on preperitoneal fat, arterial stiffness, and several blood parameters related to MS to those of a control group who trained under normoxic conditions. Fourteen healthy men were examined. Participants performed treadmill exercise 3 days per week for 4 weeks, under either normobaric hypoxic or normobaric normoxic conditions, for 50 min (including a 5-min warm-up and 5-min cool down) after a 30-min rest period. Exercise was performed at a heart rate (HR) corresponding to 60% of the HR at each individual's maximum oxygen uptake. Training under the different environmental conditions was performed 4 months apart to ensure a sufficient washout period. Waist circumference, preperitoneal fat thickness, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, and high-sensitivity CRP after training were significantly lower in the hypoxic group than in the normoxic group. Our results suggest that regular short-term hypoxic training may more effectively reduce arterial stiffness, and thus prevent arteriosclerosis, compared to training performed at a similar exercise intensity under normoxic conditions.

Psychological state, quality of life, and body composition in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis in Lithuania

SUMMARY: The objective of this study was to determine body composition, physical activity, and psychological state in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Fat mass, lean mass, water mass, and basal metabolic rate are lower, self-reported physical activity and risk factors of fractures are higher, and cognitive functions were worse in osteoporotic patients than in controls. Significant correlations were found between physical activity and emotional state parameters. INTRODUCTION: This study aims to determine peculiarities of body composition, physical activity, risk factors predicting fractures, psychological state and quality of life, and possible relations between them in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis in Lithuania. METHODS: Thirty-one postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and 29 healthy age- and sex-matched controls were included in the study. Profile of Mood State and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used for the assessment of emotional state. Trail Making Test and Digit Symbol Test of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale were used to evaluate cognitive functioning. Quality of life was evaluated using the World Health Organization Brief Quality of Life Questionnaire. Risk of fractures was assessed by the Risk Factors Predicting Questionnaire. RESULTS: Fat mass (22.4 +/- 4.7 vs. 40.6 +/- 14.2 kg, p < 0.001), lean mass (37.3 +/- 6.0 vs. 48.1 +/- 7.6 kg, p < 0.001), water mass (31.6 +/- 2.9 vs. 38.3 +/- 5.3 kg, p < 0.001), and basal metabolic rate (1,253 +/- 132 vs. 1,456 +/- 126 kcal, p < 0.001) were lower in osteoporotic patients than in controls. Self-reported physical activity (2.35 +/- 0.6 vs. 1.69 +/- 0.5, p < 0.001) and risk factors of fractures (5.9 +/- 2.1 vs. 2.6 +/- 2.4, p < 0.001) were higher in women with osteoporosis than in healthy age- and sex-matched controls (2.35 +/- 0.6 vs. 69 +/- 0.5, p < 0.001). Trail making A and B scores were higher in patients than in age- and sex-matched controls (55.8 +/- 19.9 vs. 45.1 +/- 19.9, p = 0.07 and 118.2 +/- 34.6 vs. 92.8 +/- 48.7, p = 0.006). Some significant correlations were detected between physical activity and emotional state and quality of life parameters. CONCLUSION: In postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, fat body mass, lean body mass, water body mass, basal metabolic rate, and waist-to-hip ratio are lower, physical activity and risk of fractures are higher, and cognitive functions are worse than in age- and sex-matched controls. Some psychological peculiarities could be related to physical activity in women with osteoporosis.

[Metabolic profile according to leptin levels in obese patients]

Increased body mass index and waist circumference are related to cardiovascular risk factors. Leptin is an adipocyte-produced hormone and regulates body weight. Leptin is directly related to body fat. To evaluate the relationship between leptin and metabolic profile in obese subjects, we studied 119 patients. Anthropometric, laboratory, body composition (by bioelectrical impedance) and co-morbidity data were collected. The analysis was performed in the female population (86.6%): average age: 42 +/- 13 years; hypertension, type 2 diabetes and grade III obesity were present in 61.9%, 20.2% and 58.3%, respectively. Leptin levels were positively related to insulin resistance (IR). HOMA-IR was related to metabolic abnormalities of IR. No differences were demonstrated between lipid profile, glycemia, body composition and tertiles of leptin corrected by fat weight. A significant difference in HOMA-IR was present when the 2nd and 3rd tertiles of leptin corrected by fat weight [3.4 (2.8-4.1) vs. 5.3 (4.1-6.5), p=0.011] were compared. In conclusion, leptin corrected by fat weight did not influence lipid profile and glycemia in moderate to severe obese women with similar percent body fat. Leptin should not be considered an independent factor affecting lipid metabolism.

Obesity-related glomerulopathy in China: a case series of 90 patients

BACKGROUND

The epidemic of obesity has been paralleled by an increase in the incidence of chronic kidney disease. However, epidemiological data for obesity-related glomerulopathy (ORG) from developing countries, including China, are very limited.

STUDY DESIGN

Case series. ORG defined as body mass index (BMI) of 28.0 kg/m(2) or greater; urinary protein excretion of 0.4 g/24 h or greater, and glomerulomegaly (glomerular volume > 3.27 x 10(6) microm(3)) with or without focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS).

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS

10,093 renal biopsy samples from patients obtained from February 2002 to November 2006 at the Research Institute of Nephrology, Nanjing University School of Medicine, China.

PREDICTOR

Obesity defined as a BMI of 28.0 kg/m(2) or greater. Subjects were divided into 3 groups: mild-obesity group with BMI of 28.0 to less than 30 kg/m(2), moderate-obesity group with BMI of 30 to less than 35 kg/m(2), and severe-obesity group with BMI of 35 kg/m(2) or greater.

OUTCOMES & MEASUREMENTS

Clinicoepidemiological and histopathologic characteristics of patients with ORG at the time of biopsy were described separately.

RESULTS

ORG was observed in 90 biopsy specimens (0.89%); frequency increased from 0.62% to 1.0% during the last 5 years (P = 0.02). Mean age was 37.5 +/- 9.3 (SD) years, 67% were men, mean BMI was 31.2 +/- 3.3 kg/m(2), waist circumference was 103 cm (range, 89.4 to 124 cm) in men and 96.5 cm (range, 88.5 to 113 cm) in women, waist-hip ratio was 0.95 +/- 0.07, and 100% had visceral obesity. Of the total, 49%, 37%, and 14% had mild, moderate, and severe obesity, respectively. Mean urinary protein excretion of subjects was 1.48 +/- 1.2 g/24 h; 51%, 39%, and 10% had proteinuria with protein of 0.4 to 1.0, 1.0 to 3.5, and greater than 3.5 g/d, respectively. Mean measured creatinine clearance (Ccr) was 109 +/- 32.2 mL/min/1.73 m(2), with 42%, 36%, and 22% with a Ccr greater than 120, 90 to 120, and less than 90 mL/min/1.73 m(2), respectively. Glucose dysmetabolism, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension were observed in 77%, 88%, 76%, and 63% of patients, respectively. FSGS was observed in 70%. Mean foot-process width was 534 +/- 176 nm. Foot-process fusion was seen in 36% of patients. Greater BMI was associated with greater proteinuria (P < 0.02), greater Ccr (P < 0.03), and greater foot-process width (P < 0.04).

LIMITATIONS

Inability to compute prevalence or incidence from case series. BMI was calculated at time of renal biopsy.

CONCLUSIONS

Most patients with ORG had mild obesity, visceral obesity, minor proteinuria, preserved Ccr, and FSGS.

Relation of body composition, fat mass, and serum lipids to osteoporotic fractures and bone mineral density in Chinese men and women

BACKGROUND

Higher fat mass may be an independent risk factor for osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to determine the independent contribution of fat mass to osteoporosis and to estimate the risk of osteoporotic fractures in relation to body weight, lean mass, and other confounders.

DESIGN

This was a community-based, cross-sectional study of 7137 men, 4585 premenopausal women, and 2248 postmenopausal women aged 25-64 y. Total-body and hip bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Serum lipids were measured. Sex- and menopause-specific multiple generalized linear models were applied.

RESULTS

Across 5-kg strata of body weight, fat mass was significantly inversely associated with BMC in the whole body and total hip. When we compared the highest quartile with the lowest quartile of percentage fat mass in men, premenopausal women, and postmenopausal women, the adjusted odds ratios (95% CIs) of osteoporosis defined by hip BMD were 5.2 (2.1, 13.2), 5.0 (1.7, 15.1), and 6.9 (4.3, 11.2), respectively. Significant linear trends existed for higher risks of osteoporosis, osteopenia, and nonspine fractures with higher percentage fat mass. Significant negative relations were found between whole-body BMC and cholesterol, triacylglycerol, LDL, and the ratio of HDL to LDL in all groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Risks of osteoporosis, osteopenia, and nonspine fractures were significantly higher for subjects with higher percentage body fat independent of body weight, physical activity, and age. Thus, fat mass has a negative effect on bone mass in contrast with the positive effect of weight-bearing itself.