Body Composation And Lifestyle Predictors Of Vascular Health In Asian Premenopausal Women

PURPOSE: Research shows that heart disease is the number cause of death in adult women with more and more young women showing signs of cardiovascular risk. This study aimed to determine whether body composition, physical activity and dietary intake could predict vascular measures of cardiac risk in premenopausal Asian women. METHODS: A total of 125 apparently healthy premenopausal Asian women, mean age = 32.9 ± 8.16 years, volunteered to participate in the study. Vascular markers associated with cardiovascular disease risk included carotid femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), central augmentation index (cAIx), and mean arterial pressure (MAP). Using SECA mBCA bioelectrical impedance, body composition predictors included total adiposity, skeletal muscle mass (SMM), and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Anthropometric predictors included BMI and waist circumference (WC). Physical activity was determined using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Using two 24-hour dietary recalls (one weekday and one weekend day), consumption of sodium, total and saturated fat, cholesterol, and sugar intake were measured with Nutritionist Pro Software. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to determine body composition, physical activity, and nutrition predictors of vascular health for the entire sample. RESULTS: Significant predictors of cfPWV included VAT (p < 0.05). Predictors of cAIx were WC (p < 0.05) and SMM (p < 0.05). BMI showed a trend toward predicting BMI (p = 0.07). There were no other significant predictors of vascular health. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that central body composition measures including VAT and WC, can predict adverse markers of vascular health. Additionally, SMM served in a protective capacity wherein higher SMM values were related to lower vascular risk. These findings emphasize the importance of assessing both central fat distribution and SMM in the evaluation of cardiovascular risk in premenopausal Asian women.