Racial differences in the association between body fat distribution and lipid profiles among reproductive-age women

• Published in: Diabetes & metabolism 2010-09, Vol.36 (4), p.278-285
• Main Authors: Hosain, G.M.M, Rahman, M, Williams, K.J, Berenson, A.B
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; African Americans - statistics & numerical data; Biological and medical sciences; Body Fat Distribution; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Distribution du tissu adipeux; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinology & Metabolism; Endocrinopathies; Ethnicité; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; European Continental Ancestry Group - statistics & numerical data; Female; Femmes; Hispanic Americans - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Internal Medicine; Linear Models; Lipid levels; Lipids - blood; Medical sciences; Multivariate Analysis; Profil lipidique du sérum; Période d’activité génitale; Race; Reproductive-age; Texas - epidemiology; Triglycerides - blood; Women; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1262-3636; 1878-1780
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diabet.2010.01.010

Abstract Aim The aim of this study was to examine the racial and ethnic differences in the relationship between body fat distribution variables and serum lipid profiles. Methods Secondary data analyses were conducted on 708 healthy women (204 blacks, 247 whites and 257 Hispanics), aged 16–33 years, seen in an outpatients clinic for contraception. Pearson correlation and multivariable linear regression techniques were used to identify racial/ethnic differences in the relationship between lipid profiles and body fat after adjusting for lean mass as well as demographic and lifestyle variables. Results All body fat distribution variables were significantly associated with total cholesterol (TC) ( r = 0.14 to 0.26), triglycerides (TG) ( r = 0.13 to 0.46), HDL cholesterol ( r = −0.13 to −0.34), cholesterol-to-HDL ratio ( r = 0.20 to 0.50) and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) ( r = 0.16 to 0.49). Significant racial/ethnic differences were observed in many associations. After adjusting for lean mass, and other demographic and lifestyle factors, the study showed that black women demonstrated significantly weaker associations than their white and Hispanic counterparts using multivariable linear regression procedures. Conclusion The relationship between lipid profiles and body fat distribution variables varies by race/ethnicity in reproductive-age women. A better understanding of these racial/ethnic differences has important implications for clinical and public-health efforts in targeting the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD).