High body fat and low muscle mass are associated with increased arterial stiffness in Asian Indians in North India.

AIM: To investigate the associations of high body fat and low muscle mass with arterial stiffness in Asian Indians with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in North India.

METHODS

In this cross sectional study, subjects with T2DM (males n=110, females n=58, mean age: 53.8±10.0years) were recruited. Anthropometry and body composition analysis were performed and measures of glycemia, lipids and PWV were analyzed.

RESULTS

Significant positive correlation was observed between PWV and body fat (p<0.05), left leg fat (p<0.05), and right leg fat (p<0.01) percentages only in females. In males, significant negative correlation was observed between PWV and truncal fat free mass (p<0.05) and fat free mass in right arm (p=0.05) and left arm (p<0.05). In both males and females, significant negative correlation was observed between PWV and fat free mass in left leg (p<0.01) and for right leg fat free mass only in females.

CONCLUSION

Excess adiposity and low fat free mass are associated with arterial stiffening in Asian Indians with T2DM in North India, with significant gender differences.