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Clinical Studies and Practice

Central fat accretion and insulin sensitivity: differential relationships in parous and nulliparous women

International Journal of Obesity volume 41, pages 1214–1217 (2017)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

Childbearing is associated with a disproportionate accumulation of visceral fat and an increased risk of metabolic disease. However, it is unknown whether the visceral fat accretion associated with pregnancy modifies a woman’s risk for metabolic disease. The purpose of this study was to test whether the association between abdominal fat and insulin sensitivity differs by parity status in healthy overweight women.

Subjects/Methods:

Intra-abdominal adipose tissue (IAAT) via CT, body composition by DXA, insulin sensitivity via intravenous glucose tolerance test and minimal model (SI), HOMA-IR, and cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max) were assessed in 212 non-diabetic, premenopausal, overweight non-Hispanic white and African–American women.

Results:

Nulliparous women (n=98) were younger, had less IAAT and higher VO2max, but similar SI, HOMA-IR and leg fat, compared to parous (n=114). In nulliparous women, IAAT was negatively associated with SI, controlling for age, race and body fat mass (r=−0.40, P<0.001), but this relationship was attenuated in parous women (r=−0.15, P=0.16). In multiple linear regression analysis, leg fat and IAAT were significant predictors of SI in nulliparous, but not parous women.

Conclusions:

Results suggest that greater IAAT in parous women does not lead to greater insulin resistance; rather, transient insulin resistance during pregnancy may encourage intra-abdominal fat accumulation that is metabolically benign. This underscores the need to consider parity when assessing cardiometabolic risk.

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Acknowledgements

BAG’s work and GRH’s work have been funded in part by the NIH. Support for this study was received through the NIH National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (RO1DK049779, PI: GRH), NCI Cancer Prevention & Control Training Program (R25 CA047888), UAB Nutrition and Obesity Research Center (P30 DK056336), UAB Diabetes Research Center (P60 DK079626) and UAB Center for Clinical and Translational Science (UL 1RR025777) for core lab support.

Author contributions

KHI and BAG conceptualized the paper and analyzed the data. GRH and BAG oversaw the data collection. BAG is guarantor of article contents. All authors were involved in interpreting the data and writing the paper. All authors gave final approval of the submitted and published versions.

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIH or any other organization with which the authors are affiliated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Exercise Science and Sport Management, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, USA

    K H Ingram & J F James

  2. Department of Human Studies, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

    G R Hunter

  3. Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

    B A Gower

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  1. K H Ingram
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  2. G R Hunter
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  4. B A Gower
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to K H Ingram.

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Competing interests

BAG’s and GRH’s works have been funded in part by the NIH. The remaining authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Ingram, K., Hunter, G., James, J. et al. Central fat accretion and insulin sensitivity: differential relationships in parous and nulliparous women. Int J Obes 41, 1214–1217 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2017.104

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