Relation between visceral fat and carotid intimal media thickness in Mexican postmenopausal women: a preliminary report

• Main Authors: Sebastián Carranza-Lira, Yessica Mireya Moreno Azpilcueta, Sergio Rosales Ortiz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Termedia Publishing House 2016-07-01
• Series: Menopause Review
• Subjects: visceral fat; subcutaneous fat; intima media thickness; postmenopause; carotid; blood pressure
• Online Access: https://www.termedia.pl/Relation-between-visceral-fat-and-carotid-intimal-media-thickness-in-Mexican-postmenopausal-women-a-preliminary-report,4,27979,1,1.html

Aim of the study: To investigate the relationship between visceral fat and carotid IMT (intima media thickness) in Mexican postmenopausal women. Material and methods: In 71 postmenopausal women divided in two groups: group 1, IMT > 1 mm and group 2, IMT ≤ 1 mm, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), waist hip ratio (WHR), visceral and subcutaneous fats and carotid IMT were analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used and the comparison among those with abnormal and normal IMT was carried out using Mann-Whitney U test; also Spearman’s correlation analysis was done. Results When comparing group 1 (n = 9, 12.7%) with group 2 (n = 62, 87.3%), it was found that the subcutaneous fat, visceral fat and systolic blood pressure were significantly greater in group 1 (p < 0.018, p < 0.001 and p < 0.006, respectively), and also in this group there was a correlation between BMI and subcutaneous fat ( = 0.686, p < 0.041) and between visceral fat and the systolic blood pressure (= 0.712, p < 0.031). In group 2, there was a correlation between IMT and diastolic blood pressure (= 0.251, p < 0.049). Conclusion : Subcutaneous and visceral fat have an unfavorable effect in the carotid IMT and in blood pressure.