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Body composition and fat repartition in relation to structure and function of large arteries in middle-aged adults (the SU.VI.MAX study)

International Journal of Obesity volume 29, pages 826–832 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate associations of body composition assessed by bioimpedance analysis and anthropometric indicators of fat repartition with carotid structure and function.

DESIGN:

Cross-sectional epidemiological study.

SUBJECTS:

A total of 1014 middle-aged apparently healthy adults participating in the SU.VI.MAX study.

MEASUREMENTS:

Body composition (fat mass, fat-free mass) was assessed by bioimpedance analysis and anthropometric indicators of fat repartition (waist circumference (WC); waist-hip-ratio (WHR)) were simultaneously collected. Carotid ultrasound examination included measurements of intima-media thickness (IMT) at the common carotid arteries (CCA) and assessment of atherosclerotic plaques in extracranial carotid arteries. Carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity (PWV) was used as a marker of aortic stiffness.

RESULTS:

In multivariate analyses adjusted for major known cardiovascular risk factors in addition to age, gender and height, fat-free mass, fat mass (FM), and WC were positively associated with CCA-IMT and lumen diameter. No significant association was found with occurrence of carotid plaques. PWV was only associated with WC. Associations of CCA-IMT and PWV with WC were not significant anymore after further adjustment on body mass index (BMI) or FM.

CONCLUSION:

WC was the only measurement positively associated with both early atherosclerosis markers such as CCA-IMT and arterial stiffness. Although this association depends on overall adiposity, as assessed by the BMI, it emphasizes the importance of WC in clinical practice and prevention programs as a screening tool for individuals at risk for cardiovascular disease.

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Acknowledgements

All authors participated in the design of the experiment. SC, SB and MZ were in charge of data collection and analysis. All authors were responsible for writing the manuscript.

Sources of support: The SU.VI.M.AX project received support from public and private sectors. Special acknowledgements are addressed to Fruit d'Or Recherche, Lipton, Cereal, Candia, Kellogg's, CERIN, LU/Danone, Sodexho, L'Oréal, Estée Lauder, Peugeot, Jet Service, RP Scherer, France Telecom, Becton Dickinson, Fould Springer, Boehringer Diagnostic, Seppic Givaudan Lavirotte, Le Grand Canal, Air Liquide, Carboxyque, Klocke, Trophy Radio, Jouan and Perkin Elmer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. French Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) Unit 557, UMR (INSERM/INRA/CNAM), Paris, France

    S Czernichow, S Bertrais, P Galan & S Hercberg

  2. Department of Nutrition, Hôtel-Dieu Hospital (AP-HP), University Paris VI, EA 3502, Paris, France

    J-M Oppert

  3. INSERM Unit 258, Paul Brousse Hospital, Villejuif, France

    J Blacher & P Ducimetière

  4. Hypertension Unit, Centre de Diagnostic, Hôtel-Dieu Hospital (AP-HP), Paris, France

    J Blacher

  5. INSERM Unit 508, Lille, France

    M Zureik

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  1. S Czernichow
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  2. S Bertrais
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Correspondence to S Czernichow.

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Czernichow, S., Bertrais, S., Oppert, JM. et al. Body composition and fat repartition in relation to structure and function of large arteries in middle-aged adults (the SU.VI.MAX study). Int J Obes 29, 826–832 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802986

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