The Relation between Body-Fat Distribution and Lipid Metabolism in Postmenopausal Women

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between body-fat distribution and lipid metabolism in postmenopausal women. Methods: Fifty-four women (mean: 61.8 ± 7.8 years old) showing hyperlipidemia and 63 controls were enrolled in this study. Their baseline characteristics and body-fat indices, as measured by DEXA, were compared. The correlations between the serum-lipid levels and the variables were evaluated. Results: The amount of upper-half-body fat and the body-fat ratio were significantly higher in the hyperlipidemia group. In single-regression analysis, there were low levels of correlation between the serum TC levels and the amount of upper-half- body fat and the upper-body fat ratio. There was a low level of correlation between the serum TG level and the amount of upper-half-body fat, the upper-lower-half- body-fat ratios, and the upper-half-body-fat ratio. After adjusting for variables, the serum TC and TG levels best correlated with the amount of upper-half-body-fat (r = 0.458, r = 457, respectively). Conclusion: In postmenopausal women, lipid metabolism is reflected in the amount of upper-half-body fat, irrespective of age and the body-mass index (BMI).