This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Freedman, D. S. Articles by Gruchow, H. W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Freedman, D. S. Articles by Gruchow, H. W.

Circulation, Vol 81, 1498-1506, Copyright © 1990 by American Heart Association

ARTICLES

Body fat distribution and male/female differences in lipids and lipoproteins

DS Freedman, SJ Jacobsen, JJ Barboriak, KA Sobocinski, AJ Anderson, AH Kissebah, EA Sasse and HW Gruchow
Division of Biostatistics, Froedert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The role of body fat distribution, as assessed by the ratio of waist-to- hip circumferences (WHR), in statistically explaining differences in levels of lipoproteins between men and women was studied using data collected in 1985-1986 from employed adults (mean age, 40 years). As compared with the 415 women, the 709 men had higher mean levels of triglycerides (+38 mg/dl) and apolipoprotein B (+11 mg/dl) as well as lower mean levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (-15 mg/dl) and apolipoprotein A-I (-19 mg/dl). Additionally, men were more overweight, consumed more alcohol, and exercised more frequently than women but were less likely to smoke cigarettes. Controlling for these characteristics, however, did not alter the differences in lipoprotein levels between men and women. In contrast, adjustment for WHR (which was greater among men) reduced the sex differences in levels of apolipoprotein B (by 98%), triglycerides (by 94%), HDL cholesterol (by 33%), and apolipoprotein A-I (by 21%). Similar results were obtained using analysis of covariance, stratification, or matching; at comparable levels of WHR, differences in lipid and lipoprotein levels between men and women were greatly reduced. Although these results are based on cross-sectional analyses of employed adults and need to be replicated in other populations, the findings emphasize the relative importance of body fat distribution. Whereas generalized obesity and body fat distribution are associated with lipid levels, fat distribution (or a characteristic influencing fat patterning) can be an important determinant of sex differences in levels of triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and apolipoproteins B and A-I.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. Shah, A. Vella, A. Basu, R. Basu, A. Adkins, W. F. Schwenk, C. M. Johnson, K. S. Nair, M. D. Jensen, and R. A. Rizza Elevated Free Fatty Acids Impair Glucose Metabolism in Women: Decreased Stimulation of Muscle Glucose Uptake and Suppression of Splanchnic Glucose Production During Combined Hyperinsulinemia and Hyperglycemia Diabetes, January 1, 2003; 52(1): 38 - 42. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. C. Carr, J. E. Hokanson, A. Zambon, S. S. Deeb, P. H. R. Barrett, J. Q. Purnell, and J. D. Brunzell The Contribution of Intraabdominal Fat to Gender Differences in Hepatic Lipase Activity and Low/High Density Lipoprotein Heterogeneity J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2001; 86(6): 2831 - 2837. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. S. Dobs, P. S. Bachorik, S. Arver, A. W. Meikle, S. W. Sanders, K. E. Caramelli, and N. A. Mazer Interrelationships among Lipoprotein Levels, Sex Hormones, Anthropometric Parameters, and Age in Hypogonadal Men Treated for 1 Year with a Permeation-Enhanced Testosterone Transdermal System J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 2001; 86(3): 1026 - 1033. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				S. A. Romanski, R. M. Nelson, and M. D. Jensen Meal fatty acid uptake in human adipose tissue: technical and experimental design issues Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, August 1, 2000; 279(2): E447 - E454. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. C. Hudgins, M. K. Hellerstein, C. E. Seidman, R. A. Neese, J. D. Tremaroli, and J. Hirsch Relationship between carbohydrate-induced hypertriglyceridemia and fatty acid synthesis in lean and obese subjects J. Lipid Res., April 1, 2000; 41(4): 595 - 604. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				F. Lonnqvist, A. Thorne, V. Large, and P. Arner Sex Differences in Visceral Fat Lipolysis and Metabolic Complications of Obesity Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., July 1, 1997; 17(7): 1472 - 1480. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. M.I. Hennes, I. M. O'Shaughnessy, T. M. Kelly, P. LaBelle, B. M. Egan, and A. H. Kissebah Insulin-Resistant Lipolysis in Abdominally Obese Hypertensive Individuals: Role of the Renin-Angiotensin System Hypertension, July 1, 1996; 28(1): 120 - 126. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				C. Baylis, L. Samsell, L. Racusen, and W. Gladfelter Hypothalamic Lesions Induce Obesity and Sex-Dependent Glomerular Damage and Increases in Blood Pressure in Rats Hypertension, April 1, 1996; 27(4): 926 - 932. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				A. Slyper and G. Schectman Coronary Artery Disease Risk Factors From a Genetic and Developmental Perspective Arch Intern Med, March 28, 1994; 154(6): 633 - 638. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. R. Folsom, S. A. Kaye, T. A. Sellers, C.-P. Hong, J. R. Cerhan, J. D. Potter, and R. J. Prineas Body Fat Distribution and 5-Year Risk of Death in Older Women JAMA, January 27, 1993; 269(4): 483 - 487. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Stevens, J. E. Keil, P. F. Rust, H. A. Tyroler, C. E. Davis, and P. C. Gazes Body Mass Index and Body Girths as Predictors of Mortality in Black and White Women Arch Intern Med, June 1, 1992; 152(6): 1257 - 1262. [Abstract] [PDF]