SERIAL CHANGES IN BODY-COMPOSITION THROUGHOUT ADULTHOOD AND THEIR RELATIONSHIPS TO CHANGES IN LIPID AND LIPOPROTEIN LEVELS - THE FELS LONGITUDINAL-STUDY

Few studies have examined the relationships between measures of body c omposition and lipid and lipoprotein levels in long-term serial data f rom individuals unselected for cardiovascular disease- or obesity-rela ted variables, and none have considered such extensive serial data as used in the current study. The aim was to examine in such individuals the associations between annual changes in lipid and lipoprotein level s and concurrent changes in total body fat, fat-free mass, percent bod y fat, and body mass index. Serial data from 1304 examinations of 423 adult white participants in the Fels Longitudinal Study were analyzed sex-specifically in 2 age groups, 18 through 44 years and 45 to 65 yea rs. A regressive analytic approach utilized the long-term (4 to 20 yea rs) serial data of individuals. Annual changes in adiposity, independe nt of levels of lean tissue changes, before and after age 45 for men a nd women were significantly correlated with corresponding annual chang es in cholesterol and low density Lipoprotein cholesterol. In men befo re age 45, changes in triglycerides and high density lipoprotein chole sterol were also significantly associated with changes in adiposity, w ith the relationship remaining after age 45 in high density lipoprotei n cholesterol. Increases in adiposity in individuals are associated wi th changes in lipid and lipoprotein levels in the direction of increas ed risk for cardiovascular disease. Adult levels of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol across age and sex and high de nsity lipoprotein cholesterol in men are responsive to changes in adip osity, independent of initial adiposity or lipid and Lipoprotein level s.