Simple skinfold-thickness measurements complement conventional anthropometric assessments in predicting glucose tolerance

Background: Skinfold-thickness measurements are considered to have limited clinical utility. Objective: To assess whether skinfold-thickness measurements may be a usefu l adjunct to conventional anthropometric assessments in predicting glucose and insulin regulation, we studied responses to replicate 75-g oral-glucose -tolerance tests (OGTTs) and performed simple anthropometry in a cross sect ion of subjects. Design: Thirty-five subjects completed the study: 11 lean [mean (+/- SEM) a ge: 33 +/- 3.2 y; body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)): 24.1 +/- 0.8; and perc entage body fat (%BF): 11.5 +/- 1.5%], 12 normal-weight (age: 33 +/- 2.9 y; BMI: 23.9 +/- 0.7; and %BF: 24.3.5 +/- 1.3%), and 12 obese (age: 41 +/- 4. 5 y; BMI: 34.5 +/- 1.7; and %BF: 34.2 +/- 1.5%) individuals. The lean and n ormal-weight groups were selected to have similar BMIs but different %BFs. We measured the participants' heights, weights, %BFs, waist circumferences, hip circumferences, and truncal and peripheral skinfold thicknesses. Subje cts received nine 75-g OGTTs and blood samples were collected at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min. Mean plasma glucose and insulin values were used to calculate the insulin sensitivity index. Results: The obese group had higher plasma glucose concentrations and areas under the curve (AUCs) than did the normal-weight or lean group and higher plasma insulin concentrations and AUCs than did the lean group (P < 0.05). Stepwise multiple regression, with adjustment for demographic and anthropo metric measurements, identified the following predictors: waist circumferen ce, peripheral skinfold thickness, and BMI for fasting plasma glucose (part ial R-2 = 0.20, 0.13, and 0.13, P < 0.05); waist circumference and truncal skinfold thickness for plasma glucose AUC (partial R-2 = 0.20 and 0.13, P < 0.05); age, waist to-hip ratio, and peripheral skinfold thickness for fast ing plasma insulin (partial R-2 = 0.26, 0.22, and 0.15, P < 0.05); truncal skinfold thickness for plasma insulin AUC (partial R-2 = 0.41, P < 0.001); and peripheral skinfold thickness for both 2-h plasma glucose (partial R-2 = 0.59, P < 0.001) and the insulin sensitivity index (partial R-2 = 0.49, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Skinfold-thickness measurements may complement other establishe d measurements for predicting abnormal glucose and insulin regulation.