1. ¹Department of Medicine, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
2. ²Human Performance Laboratory, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
3. ³School of Physical and Health Education, Queens University, Kinston, Ontario, Canada

Correspondence: MP Solano, Internal Medicine, University of Miami, 1450 NW 10th Avenue, Room 1090, Miami, FL 33136, USA. E-mail: msolano@med.miami.edu

Received 2 April 2002; Revised 25 July 2002; Accepted 13 August 2002.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) levels and to examine the association of PAI-1 with visceral adiposity and other components of the metabolic syndrome in overweight and obese premenopausal African-American (AA) and Caucasian (CC) women.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.

SUBJECTS: 33 CC and 23 AA healthy, overweight and obese, premenopausal women (age 19–53 y, body mass index 28.1–48.9 kg/m²).

MEASUREMENTS: Body mass index, sagittal diameter, waist circumference, percentage body fat, visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue (by anthropometry, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and bioelectric impedance techniques), PAI-1, leptin, lipids, glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance (by HOMA IR).

RESULTS: AA women had lower triglyceride levels and less visceral adipose tissue (VAT) volume than CC despite similar BMI. PAI-1 levels were not significantly different in the two groups. Insulin resistance was associated with PAI-1 in both groups but only in CC women were VAT, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol and blood pressure related to plasma PAI-1 levels. Multiple regression analysis showed that VAT in CC and insulin resistance in AA were independent predictors of PAI-1.

CONCLUSION: VAT is significantly associated with circulating PAI-1 levels in overweight and obese CC but not AA premenopausal women.