Association Of Body Composition And Arterial Stiffness In Non-hispanic Black And Asian Females

The high prevalence of obesity, metabolic dysregulation (MD), and cardiovascular disease (CVD) among racial and ethnic minorities is a prominent health disparity that needs to be addressed. Arterial stiffness (AS) is a key indicator of vascular aging and a subclinical marker for CVD. High total body and central adiposity are associated with increased CVD risk. Therefore, identifying specific body composition patterns, such as increased visceral adipose tissue (VAT), that may predict AS in higher-risk populations is important to support disease prevention recommendations and treatment strategies. PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the association of VAT, android/gynoid ratio (A/G), lean mass (LM), and AS in non-Hispanic (NH) Black and East Asian females. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 90 healthy females (mean age: 22.5 ± 3.8 yrs, range: 18-34; body fat percentage (%BF): 31.2 ± 5.7; range: 20-44). Participants self-identified as NH Black (n = 45) and East Asian (n = 45). Arterial stiffness was measured non-invasively by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) using a Vicorder. Body composition outcomes (LM, A/G, and VAT) were measured using a full-body dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scan. Separate linear regression analyses were completed to assess the association between body composition outcomes and cfPWV after controlling for race, %BF, and age. RESULTS: After controlling for race, %BF, and age there was no significant association between cfPWV and LM (F (1,89) =0.154, p = 0.695), VAT (F (1,89) =0.443, p = 0.508), or A/G (F (1,89) = 3.459, p = 0.066). Within the model, age was a significant predictor of cfPWV, t (86) =2.268, p < 0.026, indicating as age increased, cfPWV increased as expected. CONCLUSION: In this young adult sample of NH Black and East Asian females, VAT, LM, and A/G were not associated with AS. High abdominal fat mass and low lean mass have been associated with increased chronic disease risk factors, however, we may not see this association with AS in healthy young adult females of color who do not present with any other aspects of CVD or MD. Future research should evaluate other lifestyle and physiological factors that may explain the variation in AS in middle-aged and older racially diverse populations. Supported by: Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number P30DK056350. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health