BODY COMPOSITION AND METABOLIC FLEXIBILITY IN INDIVIDUALS OF ASIAN DESCENT

The purpose of this study was to characterize metabolic health outcomes, body composition, and metabolic flexibility in Asian populations stratified by ethnicity. 41 Asian individuals completed a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scan to measure body composition (lean mass [LM], visceral adipose tissue [VAT], and android/gynoid %fat [A/G ratio]). For metabolic flexibility, maximal fat oxidation (MFO) was measured via indirect calorimetry during a graded submaximal exercise test. T-tests assessed differences between South and East Asian individuals. Multiple linear regression assessed the association of LM, A/G ratio and VAT with MFO. South Asian individuals showed lower LM and RMR than East Asian individuals (LM: Mean Difference [MD]=7.5 kg, p=0.027; RMR: MD=168.1 kcal/day, p=0.041). There were no differences in A/G ratio, VAT or MFO. Body composition variables were not predictive of metabolic flexibility, but A/G ratio trended towards significance as a predictor (∆R2=0.097, p=0.053).