Relation between body composition, anthropometry, and glucose tolerance

Based upon the results of a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test, 305 subjects (157 men and 148 women), who were admitted to the National Cheng Kung University Hospital for health check-up, were divided into diabetic (n = 47, 25 men and 22 women), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) (n = 53, 27 men and 26 women) and normal (n = 205, 105 men an 100 women) groups. All diabetics were of non-insulin-dependent diabetics. Body composition and anthropometries including body mass index (BMI), thickness of triceps skinfold (TSF), arm muscle circumference (AMC), and blood pressure were compared among these three groups. Body composition (percentage of fat, lean mass and total body water) was significantly correlated to BMI, TSF, AMC, blood pressure, blood glucose, hemoglobin Alc (HbAlc) and cholesterol. BMI was significantly correlated to blood pressure, blood glucose, HbAlc, triglyceride and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) levels. TSF and AMC were not correlated to blood pressure, blood glucose, HbAlc or blood lipids. However, in defining adiposity, TSF seems more sensitive than BMI. The data of the IGT group did not show a significant difference from those of the normal group except for a higher systolic pressure and a 2-hour plasma glucose level after a 75 g oral glucose loading. The diabetic group showed significantly higher BMI, systolic pressure, triglyceride, and SGPT levels than both the IGT and normal groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)