Yonsei Med J.  2004 Jun;45(3):469-478. 10.3349/ymj.2004.45.3.469.

The Correlation between Insulin Resistance and the Visceral Fat to Skeletal Muscle Ratio in Middle-aged Women

• Kim CS
• Nam JY
• Park JS
• Kim DM
• Yoon SJ
• Ahn CW
• Lim SK
• Kim KR
• Lee HC
• Huh KB
• Cha BS

• KMID: 1734129
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2004.45.3.469

Abstract

Central obesity with visceral fat accumulation and the amount of skeletal muscle mass may influence insulin sensitivity via its capacity for glucose load uptake. We investigated the relationships among the following metabolic variables: ratio of fat area to skeletal muscle area (VMR), percent ideal body weight, body mass index, waist-to-hip circumference (WHR) and visceral fat to subcutaneous fat ratio (VSR) in 114 nondiabetic middle-aged women. Anthropometric parameters, lipid profiles and sex hormone- binding globulin were measured. Visceral and subcutaneous fat areas at the umbilical level and the skeletal muscle area at the mid-thigh level were measured and computed. 75-gram OGTT tests were performed, along with measuring plasma glucose, insulin and free fatty acid levels, according to which area under the curve of glucose (Glu-AUC), insulin (Ins-AUC), free fatty acid (FFA-AUC) and glucose/insulin ratio (GIR=Glu- AUC/Ins-AUC), were calculated. 1) Triglyceride was more correlated with VSR than VMR. 2) The independent anthropometric parameters for each metabolic variable were In conclusion, VMR for Ins-AUC, WHR for Glu-AUC and total cholesterol, and VSR for triglyceride. 3) For subjects with higher VMR, age, Ins-AUC and triglyceride were significantly higher. 4) Subjects with higher VMR were older and showed higher Ins-AUC and lower GIR than the subjects with lower VMR. In conclusion, VMR is an anthropometric parameter that reflects insulin resistance concerning glucose metabolism, and VSR is thought to be a good parameter that that reflects the serum lipid levels. Further prospective studies are necessary to reevaluate the visceral fat vs. skeletal muscle relationship.

Keyword

Insulin resistance; visceral fat; skeletal muscle; visceral fat to skeletal muscle ratio; visceral fat to subcutaneous fat ratio

MeSH Terms

Adipose Tissue/*metabolism/*pathology
Adult
Body Constitution
*Body Mass Index
Female
Human
*Insulin Resistance
Menopause
Middle Aged
Muscle, Skeletal/*metabolism
Obesity/metabolism/pathology
Postmenopause
Viscera