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Differential Effects of Abdominal Adipose Tissue Distribution on Insulin Sensitivity in Black and White South African Women
Author(s) -
Goedecke Julia H.,
Levitt Naomi S.,
Lambert Estelle V.,
Utzschneider Kristina M.,
Faulenbach Mirjam V.,
Dave Joel A.,
West Sacha,
Victor Hendriena,
Evans Juliet,
Olsson Tommy,
Walker Brian R.,
Seckl Jonathan R.,
Kahn Steven E.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1038/oby.2009.73
Subject(s) - medicine , adipose tissue , insulin , white adipose tissue , endocrinology , obesity , body fat distribution , insulin resistance
Black South African women are more insulin resistant than BMI‐matched white women. The objective of the study was to characterize the determinants of insulin sensitivity in black and white South African women matched for BMI. A total of 57 normal‐weight (BMI 18–25 kg/m 2 ) and obese (BMI > 30 kg/m 2 ) black and white premenopausal South African women underwent the following measurements: body composition (dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry), body fat distribution (computerized tomography (CT)), insulin sensitivity ( S I , frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test), dietary intake (food frequency questionnaire), physical activity (Global Physical Activity Questionnaire), and socioeconomic status (SES, demographic questionnaire). Black women were less insulin sensitive (4.4 ± 0.8 vs. 9.5 ± 0.8 and 3.0 ± 0.8 vs. 6.0 ± 0.8 × 10 −5 /min/(pmol/l), for normal‐weight and obese women, respectively, P < 0.001), but had less visceral adipose tissue (VAT) ( P = 0.051), more abdominal superficial subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) ( P = 0.003), lower SES ( P < 0.001), and higher dietary fat intake ( P = 0.001) than white women matched for BMI. S I correlated with deep and superficial SAT in both black ( R = −0.594, P = 0.002 and R = 0.495, P = 0.012) and white women ( R = −0.554, P = 0.005 and R = −0.546, P = 0.004), but with VAT in white women only ( R = −0.534, P = 0.005). In conclusion, body fat distribution is differentially associated with insulin sensitivity in black and white women. Therefore, the different abdominal fat depots may have varying metabolic consequences in women of different ethnic origins.