Associations between body composition and cognitive function in an elderly Korean population: A cohort-based cross-sectional study

The prevalence of obesity as well as cognitive impairment increases with age. Previous studies showed that obesity is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. Body composition changes occur as part of the aging process; therefore, the assessment of obesity in elderly populations should include body composition as well as body weight. This study investigated the relationship between body mass index (BMI), body composition, and cognitive function in a community-dwelling elderly Korean population.This cohort-based cross-sectional analysis included 2386 elderly participants aged between 70 and 84 years from the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study for 2016 to 2017. To investigate the relationship between body composition and cognitive function in community-dwelling individuals, BMI and body composition, including total and trunk fat mass and fat-free mass, were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Fat mass index (FMI), trunk fat mass index (TFMI), and fat-free mass index (FFMI) were used to represent the body composition. A short form of the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer disease was used to assess cognitive function. To evaluate the relationship between variables, simple and fully adjusted multivariable analyses were performed using generalized linear regression models.The mean ages were 76.8 years for males and 76.1 years for females. The BMI of male participants was significantly lower than that of females (23.9 ± 2.89 vs 24.7 ± 3.02 kg/m², P < .001). Among body composition parameters, the differences in FMI (6.44 ± 1.97 vs 9.29 ± 2.3 kg/m²), TFMI (3.68 ± 1.33 vs 5.03 ± 1.43 kg/m²), and FFMI (17.4 ± 1.64 vs 15.3 ± 1.39 kg/m²) were statistically significant. In linear regression analyses, BMI, FMI, and TFMI showed significant positive correlations with mini-mental state examination in the Korean version of the CERAD assessment packet; wordlist memory, recall, and recognition; and frontal assessment battery only in males. The significant positive correlations persisted even after fully adjusting for age, education periods, location of residence, depression, marriage, annual income, presence of diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. However, no significant correlations in either sex were observed between FFMI and cognitive functions in the fully adjusted models.In this study, BMI, and fat mass-related indexes including FMI and TFMI showed a positive linear correlation with cognitive functions but not FFMI. Moreover, the findings were significant only in men. Besides the difference between sexes, the results of this study showed a more apparent correlation in fat mass than in fat-free mass that comprises body weight.     

Increased visceral fat area to skeletal muscle mass ratio is positively associated with the risk of cardiometabolic diseases in a Chinese natural population: A cross-sectional study

Aims

Visceral adiposity and skeletal muscle loss may be positively correlated with cardiometabolic outcomes. This study aimed to explore the associations between the visceral fat area to skeletal muscle mass ratio (VSR) and the risk of cardiometabolic diseases in a Chinese natural population.

Materials and Methods

A total of 5158 participants were included in this study. Body composition, anthropometrical, and biochemical measurements were performed. Body composition was assessed via the direct segmental multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis method. The associations between VSR and metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), hyperglycemia, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and hyperuricemia were analysed.

Results

With the increase of VSR by one quartile, the odds ratio (OR) increased significantly for all five cardiometabolic diseases in both genders (p_trend < 0.001). With regard to the highest versus the lowest quartile of VSR, the ORs for cardiometabolic diseases were significantly higher in women than in men. Restricted cubic splines showed that there were significant non-linear relationships between VSR and the risk of MAFLD, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and hypertension in both genders (p for non-linearity <0.05). The risk was relatively flat until VSR reached 3.078 cm²/kg in men and 4.750 cm²/kg in women and started to increase rapidly afterwards. In men, however, the risk slowed down after the VSR value reached around 4 cm²/kg.

Conclusions

VSR was positively associated with cardiometabolic diseases regardless of gender. As VSR increased, the risk of cardiometabolic diseases was significantly higher in women than in men.

Trial Registration

www.chictr.org.cn (Registration number: ChiCTR2100044305).     

Increase in the prevalence of fatty liver in Japan over the past 12 years: analysis of clinical background

Background The aim of this investigation was to elucidate the time-course of changes in the prevalence of fatty liver, and to analyze its clinical backgrounds over the previous 12-year period.Methods Thirty-nine thousand one hundred and fifty-one individuals who visited the Tokai University Hospital Health Checkup Center from 1989 to 2000 were examined for the presence of fatty liver, and their clinical backgrounds were analyzed.Results In 1989, the prevalence of fatty liver was 12.6%, and it rose gradually thereafter, reaching 30.3% in 1998, corresponding to a 2.4-fold increase over the prevalence rate in 1989. The average prevalence was about twice as high in males (26.0%) as in females (12.7%). The prevalence was uniformly high in males in all ages, while the prevalence in females tended to rise gradually with age. Body mass index (BMI) was found to be the variable most closely related to the onset of fatty liver. On the other hand, nonobese individuals with a BMI of less than 25kg/m² accounted for approximately half of all the patients with fatty liver, and this proportion remained almost unchanged during the 12-year survey period. It was therefore difficult to simply attribute the increase in the prevalence of fatty liver to the increased prevalence of obesity. In the 35519 repeat examinees (repeaters), it was found that 5088 individuals (14.3%) developed fatty liver, and fatty liver resolved in 1248 individuals (3.5%). As fatty liver developed, the BMI increased by 1.0 ± 1.3kg/m². As fatty liver disappeared, the BMI decreased by 1.0 ± 1.5kg/m².Conclusions These results suggest that the absolute value of the BMI, as well as the relative changes in the BMI in each individual, may be related to the onset of fatty liver.     

Association between changes in body composition and the increasing prevalence of fatty liver in Japanese men

Aim: Prevalence of fatty liver is increasing. In this study, to elucidate the factor that contributes most to recent increases in prevalence of fatty liver, we determined the independent predictors for the onset of fatty liver and compared these predictors between 2000 and 2005. Methods: Japanese persons, aged 30–74 years, who participated in regular health checks at Kagoshima Kouseiren Medical Health Care Center (10 336 persons in 2000 and 11 011 persons in 2005) were enrolled in the study. Diagnosis of fatty liver was performed by ultrasonography. Body fat percentage (BFP) was determined using a bipedal bioimpedance instrument. Results: The prevalence of fatty liver has increased between 2000 and 2005 in men (33.3 vs 38.5% in 2000 vs 2005, respectively, P < 0.0001), but not in women (21.3 vs 21.0%, P = 0.8101). Logistic regression analysis revealed that both body mass index (BMI) and BFP are independent predictors of fatty liver in both men and women. BMI did not change in either men (23.4 ± 2.9 vs 23.8 ± 3.0 kg/m², P = 0.0528) or women (22.8 ± 3.1 vs 22.8 ± 3.3 kg/m², P = 0.9862) during the survey period. In contrast, BFP increased in men (20.6 ± 4.7 vs 22.3 ± 5.0 kg/m², P = 0.0003), but not in women (27.4 ± 5.5 vs 28.4 ± 5.9 kg/m², P = 0.3993). There was no significant change in triglycerides and glucose levels. Conclusion: These results suggest that altered body composition, particularly increased BFP without an increase in BMI, has developed in men and is strongly associated with the increasing prevalence of fatty live amongst Japanese men.     

Prevalence of obesity, central obesity and the associated factors in urban population aged 20–70 years, in the north of Iran: a population-based study and regression approach

Obesity is an undesirable outcome of changing of lifestyle and behaviours. It is also reversible predisposing factor for the development of several debilitating diseases. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence rate of obesity, overweight, central obesity and their associated factors in the north of Iran. We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study with a sample of 1800 women and 1800 men with respective mean ages of 37.5 +/- 13.0 and 38.5 +/- 14.2 years of urban population aged 20-70 years living in the north of Iran. The demographic and lifestyle data, in particular, age, gender, marital status, marriage age, family history of obesity, educational level, occupation, occupational and leisure time physical activity, duration of exercise per week, parity and the number of children were collected with a designed questionnaire. Diagnosis of obesity and central obesity were confirmed by the WHO standard recommended method by determining of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). Logistic regression model was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval. Over half of the study subjects were at educational levels of high school or higher; 79.4% of population was married and 35.3% had a family history of parental obesity. The majority of subjects in particular women had none or low levels of physical activity. The overall prevalence rates of obesity and overweight were 18.8% and 34.8% respectively. The overall prevalence rate of central obesity was 28.3%. The rate of obesity in women was higher than men (P < 0.0001). In both genders, particularly in the women, the rate of obesity was raised by increasing age. There was an inverse relation between the risk of obesity and marriage age, the high level of education (OR = 0.19, P < 0.0001), severe occupational activity (OR = 0.44, P < 0.0001), the level of exercise (in subjects with 3-4 h exercise per week, OR = 0.58, P < 0.001) and leisure time activity. Marriage, history of parental obesity and parity > or =5 were associated with increased risk of obesity (OR = 2.2, P < 0.001 and OR = 2.43, P < 0.0001 and OR = 3.73, P < 0.0001 respectively). The results of this study indicate an increased rate of obesity and overweigh in the north population of Iran. With respect to these findings, low level of activity and education, parity, family history of obesity, marriage at earlier age and ageing are responsible for both obesity and central obesity in the north of Iran. Therefore, a community-based multiple strategies are required to combat with increasing rate of obesity and its subsequent complications such as diabetes, coronary artery disease, hypertension and osteoarthritis.     

Population blood pressure and low to moderate alcohol intake in an untreated population followed over 20years. Copenhagen City heart study

The aim of this study is to evaluate whether a changing population alcohol intake is capable of setting off a shift in the blood pressure distribution in the untreated part of a population. The focus is on subjects with an alcohol intake well below the limits of alcoholism because these subjects make out the majority of the population. The Copenhagen City Heart Study is a prospective longitudinal epidemiological study. The untreated study population was followed over 20 years. Specially trained technicians using a blinded sphygmomanometer measured BP once with the subject in the sitting position. The BP measurement was fully standardised and the measurement method was unchanged throughout the observation period. A questionnaire concerning drinking habits was completed by the participants and double-checked by the technicians. The results were a decreasing population systolic BP and an increasing self-reported alcohol intake. The population increase was based on an increasing proportion of light to moderate drinkers. There was no effect of a moderately increasing alcohol intake as a covariate in a multivariate analysis of population systolic BP. Conclusion: A moderately increasing population alcohol intake cannot explain the observed changes in population systolic blood pressure.     

Body composition,appetite‐related hormones,adipocytokines, and heart failure in adult patients with congenital heart disease: A preliminary study

Objectives

To assess body composition and relationships among body composition, appetite‐related hormones, adipocytokines, and heart failure (HF) in adult patients with congenital heart disease (CHD).

Patients

This prospective study enrolled 46 consecutive adult patients with CHD and 12 age‐matched healthy controls. The patients and control subjects were divided into four groups: 13 patients with Fontan circulation (group A), 16 patients with cyanosis (group B), 17 patients who previously underwent biventricular repair (group C), and 12 age‐matched healthy controls.

Design

Body composition was measured using InBody730, and levels of appetite‐related hormones (ghrelin and leptin) and adipocytokines (leptin, interleukin‐6, and tumor necrosis factor‐α) were determined. Relationships of these measurements between severe HF, defined as New York Heart Association functional class III–IV and/or recent repeated unscheduled hospitalizations due to HF, were examined using univariate logistic analysis.

Results

Mean patient age was 32.1 ± 7.4 years. The skeletal muscle mass was significantly decreased in groups A and B compared with that in controls. Interestingly, ghrelin levels in groups A and B were also significantly lower than those in controls. Univariate logistic analysis revealed that ghrelin level, percent body fat, and pulse oximetric oxygen saturation were significantly associated with severe HF.

Conclusions

Patients with Fontan circulation and those with cyanosis might be at a risk of sarcopenia. Despite the decreased skeletal muscle mass and increased body fat, ghrelin levels in these patients were decreased. These changes might have a negative impact on HF in these patients.     

Leg muscle mass and composition in relation to lower extremity performance in men and women aged 70 to 79: the health,aging and body composition study

OBJECTIVES: The loss of muscle mass with aging, or sarcopenia, is hypothesized to be associated with the deterioration of physical function. Our aim was to determine whether low leg muscle mass and greater fat infiltration in the muscle were associated with poor lower extremity performance (LEP). DESIGN: A cross-sectional study, using baseline data of the Health, Aging and Body Composition study (1997/98). SETTING: Medicare beneficiaries residing in ZIP codes from the metropolitan areas surrounding Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Memphis, Tennessee. PARTICIPANTS: Three thousand seventy-five well-functioning black and white men and women aged 70 to 79. MEASUREMENTS: Two timed tests (6-meter walk and repeated chair stands) were used to measure LEP. Muscle cross-sectional area and muscle tissue attenuation (indicative of fat infiltration) were obtained from computed tomography scans at the midthigh. Body fat was assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: Blacks had greater muscle mass and poorer LEP than whites. Black women had greater fat infiltration into the muscle than white women. After adjustment for clinic site, age, height, and total body fat, smaller muscle area was associated with poorer LEP in all four race-gender groups. (Regression coefficients, expressed per standard deviation (+/-55 cm2) of muscle area, were 0.658 and 0.519 in white and black men and 0.547 and 0.435 in white and black women, respectively, P <.01.) In addition, reduced muscle attenuation-indicative of greater fat infiltration into the muscle-was associated with poorer LEP, independent of total body fat and muscle area. (Regression coefficients per standard deviation (= 7 Hounsfield Units) of muscle attenuation were 0.292 and 0.224 in white and black men, and 0.193 and 0.159 in white and black women, respectively, P <.05). The most important body composition components related to LEP were muscle area in men and total body fat in women. Results were similar after additional adjustment for lifestyle factors and health status. No interactions between race and muscle area (P>.7) or between race and muscle attenuation (P>.2) were observed. CONCLUSION: Smaller midthigh muscle area and greater fat infiltration in the muscle are associated with poorer LEP in well-functioning older men and women.     

Effect of APOB gene polymorphisms on body mass index,blood pressure,and total cholesterol levels: A cross-sectional study in Mexican population

APOB gene polymorphisms are considered risk factors for the development of dyslipidemia, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in several populations. In Mexico, these pathologies are frequent and studies regarding this gene are scarce. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determined genotype, allele, and haplotype frequencies of APOB polymorphisms and performed analyses of association among the biochemical, hemodynamic, anthropometrical, and genetic variables. Blood samples were taken from 361 subjects from unselected Mexican population for biochemical analysis and for deoxyribonucleic acid extraction; besides blood pressure and body mass index (BMI) were measured. APOB polymorphisms rs934197, rs533617, rs693, and rs1042031 were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism; whereas, rs17240441 and c.66_67insCTGCTG were genotyped by PCR followed by electrophoresis. Genotype and allele frequencies were obtained by simple counting and deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) were calculated by chi-square test. The effect of the polymorphisms on the quantitative variables was determined using analysis of variance, Student’s t test, Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlations and multiple linear regression models. All the polymorphisms were within HWE. Frequencies of mutated alleles were highly heterogeneous: rs934197-T 33.6%, rs17240441-D 39.3%, c.66_67insCTGCTG-I 3.9%, rs533617-G 0.9%, rs693-T 40.5%, and rs1042031-G 17.3%. Chronic degenerative diseases were frequent in the studied population: overweight-obesity 55.1%, dyslipidemia 45.8%, and hypertension 23.5%. The association analyses showed that despite adjustments for age and sex the mutated alleles rs934197-T, rs1042031G, c.66_67-insCTGCTG-I, and rs533617-G, were related to lower values of BMI, total cholesterol (TC), systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure, respectively. All polymorphisms analyzed except rs533517 and c.66_67insCTGCTG showed high frequencies of the mutated allele, making them useful for association studies. Our results revealed that, APOB gene polymorphisms could be contributing to the development of several chronic diseases, such as essential hypertension, dyslipidemias, obesity, among others. However, specific studies with each pathology are needed to know the possible implications of the polymorphisms.     

Trends in leisure time physical activity,smoking, body mass index and alcohol consumption in Danish adults with and without diabetes: A repeat cross-sectional national survey covering the years 2000 to 2010

Aims

In recent decades there has been an increased focus on non-pharmacological treatment of diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate trends in leisure time physical activity (PA), smoking, body mass index (BMI), and alcohol consumption reported in 2000, 2005 and 2010 by Danish subjects with diabetes.

Methods

Data comprised level of leisure time PA (inactive; moderate active; medium active; high active); smoking; BMI; and alcohol consumption, provided by The Danish Health and Morbidity Surveys. Participants older than 45 years with or without diabetes were included from cross-sectional analyses from 2000, 2005 and 2010.

Results

In participants with diabetes, leisure time PA levels increased from 2000 to 2010: The percentage of those that were physically active increased from 53.5% to 78.2% (p < 0.001; women) and from 67.8% to 79.1% (p = 0.01; men). The prevalence of daily smokers was reduced from 27.2% to 16.4%, p = 0.015, in women with diabetes. In men with diabetes, BMI increased from 27.2 ± 4.0 to 28.6 ± 5.1 kg m⁻², p = 0.003, and men who exceeded the maximum recommendation for alcohol consumption increased from 9.4% to 19.0%, p = 0.007. The leisure time PA level was reduced in participants with diabetes compared to participants without diabetes throughout the study.

Conclusions

The percentage of physically active Danish participants older than 45 years with diabetes increased from 2000 to 2010, and the most beneficial trends in life style were observed among the women. These trends may have serious implications for cardiovascular risk in Danish patients with diabetes.