TOPLINE:

Although total abdominal adipose tissue is similar between sexes, men have more visceral adipose tissue, whereas women have more subcutaneous adipose tissue. Despite having lower visceral adipose tissue, women exhibit stronger associations between fat distribution and adverse metabolic profiles.

METHODOLOGY:

• Body fat distribution differs notably between sexes, but the mechanisms regulating these differences and their cardiometabolic consequences remain unclear.
• Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study at a university-affiliated public hospital to investigate sex-specific differences in visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue and their associations with metabolic risk.
• They assessed adults who underwent ultrasound measurements of visceral abdominal adipose tissue and subcutaneous adipose tissue, with the mean of three measurements calculated.
• Demographic, anthropometric, behavioral, and biochemical parameters were assessed. Blood samples collected after a 12-hour fast were used to assess fasting glucose, A1c, lipid profile, and other metabolic biomarkers.

TAKEAWAY:

• The study included 253 patients (mean age, 46.3 years), of which the majority were female (64.4%) and non-White (68.7%).
• Although total abdominal adipose tissue was similar between sexes (P = .125), men had significantly higher visceral adipose tissue (7.3 cm vs 6.0 cm; P < .001), whereas women had greater subcutaneous adipose tissue (3.4 cm vs 2.7 cm; P < .001).
• In women, visceral adipose tissue and the visceral-to-subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio significantly predicted several metabolic changes, including triglycerides, triglyceride-to-high-density lipoprotein ratio, glucose, and A1c (P < .05).
• In men, visceral adipose tissue and the visceral-to-subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio predicted only changes in A1c and triglyceride levels (P < .05).

IN PRACTICE:

“Our study emphasizes the need to better understand the influence of sex on abdominal fat accumulation and the development of metabolic dysfunctions across different ethnic groups to implement more personalized approaches for the prevention or treatment of this condition,” the authors of the study wrote.

SOURCE:

The study was led by Isa Galvão Rodrigues, Department of Nutrition, Emergency Cardiology Unit of the University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil. It was published online in the Journal of Obesity.

LIMITATIONS:

The single-center design introduced potential selection bias and limited generalizability. The cross-sectional nature prevented causal interpretations. The absence of dietary and genetic data restricts contextual interpretation.

DISCLOSURES:

This study was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan. One author disclosed being a member of the Department of Prevention of Diabetes and Lifestyle-Related Diseases, a cooperative program between the University of Tokyo and the Asahi Mutual Life Insurance Company.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.