Associations of Thigh and Abdominal Adipose Tissue Radiodensity with Glucose and Insulin in Nondiabetic African-Ancestry Men.

OBJECTIVE

Decreased radiodensity of adipose tissue (AT) located in the visceral AT (VAT), subcutaneous AT (SAT), and intermuscular AT (IMAT) abdominal depots is associated with hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance independent of AT volumes. These associations were sought in African-ancestry men, who have higher risk for type 2 diabetes and have been underrepresented in previous studies.

METHODS

This cross-sectional analysis included 505 nondiabetic men of African-Caribbean ancestry (median age: 61 years; median BMI: 26.8 kg/m ) from the Tobago Health Study. AT volumes and radiodensities were assessed using computed tomography, including abdominal (VAT and SAT) and thigh (IMAT) depots. Associations between AT radiodensities were assessed with fasting serum glucose and insulin and with insulin resistance (updated homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, HOMA2-IR).

RESULTS

Higher radiodensity in any AT depot was associated with lower log-insulin and log-HOMA2-IR (β range: -0.16 to -0.18 for each; all P < 0.0001). No AT radiodensity was associated with glucose. Thigh IMAT radiodensity associations were independent of, and similar in magnitude to, VAT radiodensities. Model fit statistics suggested that AT radiodensities were a better predictor for insulin and insulin resistance compared with AT volumes in individuals with overweight and obesity.

CONCLUSIONS

AT radiodensities at multiple depots are significantly associated with insulin and insulin resistance in African-ancestry men.