EFFECTS OF AGE ON BODY-FAT DISTRIBUTION AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISK-FACTORS IN WOMEN

We conducted a cross-sectional study of body fat distribution and meta bolic variables and the interrelations among these factors in 134 wome n aged 18-71.9 y. Body fat distribution was measured with use of compu terized tomography. A significant positive correlation was observed be tween age and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and between VAT and body w eight. When subjects were divided into five age groups, VAT values wer e significantly higher in older groups. Values for triacylglycerols, c holesterol, fasting glucose, 2-h glucose, and the sum of glucose value s during an oral-glucose-tolerance test were significantly higher in o lder subjects, After adjustment for visceral fat, no significant diffe rences in any metabolic variable studied, except cholesterol, were fou nd across the five age groups. In conclusion, we found that regional b ody fat distribution in older women was different from that in younger subjects: older women had larger amounts of visceral fat. Values for metabolic variables were also higher in older subjects. Our data sugge st that redistribution of body fat in older subjects is associated wit h changes in metabolic variables.