The correlation between body fat distribution and insulin resistance in elderly.

Aim: to find the correlation between total body fat, truncal subcutaneous fat, peripheral subcutaneous fat, waist circumference and insulin resistance in elderly

Methods: a cross sectional study was conducted in patients aged 60 years or more who visited the Geriatric Outpatient Clinic at Department of Internal Medicine, Cipto Mangunkusumo National Central General Hospital, Jakarta. Subcutaneous fat thickness was measured by using caliper at 5 different sites. Truncal subcutaneous fat was measured at subscapular, suprailiaca and abdomen; whereas peripheral subcutaneous fat was measured at tricep and thigh region. Total body fat was assessed by using Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis. Index of insulin resistance was measured by using HOMA-IR.

Results: from November 2008 to January 2009, there were 55 elderly subjects who fulfilled criteria. There were significant correlations between HOMA-IR and percentage of total body fat (r=0.318; p=0.018), truncal subcutaneous fat (r=0.347; p=0.01), peripheral subcutaneous fat (r=0.296; p=0.028), and waist circumference as index of visceral fat (r=0.361; p=0.007). Other results included our finding on the correlation between BMI and percentage of total body fat (r=0.8; p=0.000), truncal subcutaneous fat (r=0.844; p=0.000), peripheral subcutaneous fat (r=0.706; p=0.000), and waist circumference (r=0.874; p=0.000). There were tendencies of decreasing body fat distribution, BMI and HOMA-IR along with increasing age. Moreover, there was also a tendency of increasing HOMA-IR with increasing BMI.

Conclusion: this study showed a positive correlation between percentage of total body fat, truncal subcutaneous fat, peripheral subcutaneous fat, waist circumference and insulin resistance in elderly.