Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Menopausal women often appear with the increase of intermuscular adipose tissue mass (IMAT) content. International methods that used to measure the IMAT content are CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Because the costs are more expensive and CT has disadvantages in radioactivity, so they are not suitable to be widely used in clinical.
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the intermuscular fat content which measure by MRI from simple surface parameters (anthropometric and serological indicators) in menopausal women in order to improve the detection efficiency and save the health care costs.
METHODS: A total of 60 naturally menopausal women were divided into metabolic syndrome group and non-metabolic syndrome group. The anthropometric indicators and serological indicators were measured. IMAT content was detected using bioelectrical impedance analyzer. According to previous research results, the middle leg area and IMAT content were measured by single cross-sectional MRI of the middle leg area. The multiple-regression analysis was conducted between measurement results of MRI and simple surface parameters.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: ①IMAT content was excess (percentage of IMAT content > 30%). The incidence of metabolic syndrome was 88.3% and 28.3%. ②Middle leg IMAT area and total IMAT content had a positive correlation with triglyceride, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure and fasting plasma glucose, while a negative correlation with high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, when age, years since postmenopause and the level of estradiol were eliminated. ③Fat content of the whole body had a strongest relationship with the IMAT. ④The equation which was used to estimate IMAT from anthropometric simple surface parameters in menopausal women was initially established. It is indicated that the total IMAT content is a risk factor for metabolic syndrome in menopausal women.