Accumulation of Visceral Adipose Tissue Linked to Lower Muscle Density

THURSDAY, Feb. 23, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- In men and women, age-related accumulation of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is associated with lower muscle density, according to a study published online Dec. 22 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Ching-Ti Liu, Ph.D., from the Boston University School of Public Health, and colleagues examined the association between six-year changes in VAT and paraspinal muscle density among 1,145 participants from the Framingham Study third-generation cohort. Muscle density was measured with VAT on quantitative computed tomography scans of the spine at baseline and six-year follow-up.

The researchers found that individuals with the greatest accumulation of VAT over six years had significantly lower paraspinal density at follow-up after adjustment for covariates; in men and women, muscle density was estimated at 0.302 and 0.476 lower per 100 cm³ increase in VAT, respectively.

"Studying the association between VAT and muscle density remains of considerable interest in the community," the authors write. "As lower paraspinal muscle tissue density has been associated with increases in falls, VAT may serve as a modifiable risk factor in prevention treatment for poor musculoskeletal outcomes."

Two authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

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