Relationship between abdominal fat compartments and glucose and lipid metabolism in early postmenopausal women

The relationships between abdominal and pelvic fat compartments and glucose and lipid metabolism were investigated in early postmenopausal women. Fifty-five healthy, postmenopausal women aged 52-53 yr participated in the study. Fat distribution (intra-abdominal and sc abdominal fat, and intrapelvic and sc pelvic fat) was estimated by computed tomography. Insulin sensitivity was assessed by euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp. In a multiple regression analysis, the size of the intra-abdominal fat compartment was the only significant predictor of insulin sensitivity (r(2) = 24%; P = 0.0002). Plasma triglycerides were closely related to the size of the intra-abdominal fat compartment (r(2) = 26%; P < 0.0001), whereas plasma free fatty acid concentrations only correlated to the size of the sc abdominal fat compartment (r(2) = 18.5%, P = 0.001). In early postmenopausal women the amount of the intra-abdominal fat strongly influences insulin sensitivity and plasma triglyceride levels, whereas plasma free fatty acids are closely related to the amount of the sc abdominal fat. Accordingly, from a metabolic standpoint it seems most essential to reduce intra-abdominal fat in postmenopausal women.