GREATER PERI-AORTIC ADIPOSE TISSUE IS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED TRUNK MUSCLE FAT IN MEN AND WOMEN

Age-related muscle fat accumulation and loss of muscle mass, contributors to mobility problems in older adults, may result from ectopic fat producing cytokines that promote satellite cell differentiation into adipocytes. Whether this occurs via systemic or local paracrine effects is unknown. We determined the association of peri-aortic adipose tissue (PAAT) volume with size and fat content of adjacent trunk muscles among 948 participants (56% women) in the community-based Framingham Study. Multidetector CT measured PAAT, and cross-sectional area and attenuation (marker of fat content) of trunk muscles (averaged left and right erector spinae, transversospinalis, and trapezius muscles at T7/T8 levels). Linear regression was used to calculate associations (β) of PAAT with cross-sectional area and attenuation, adjusting for sex, age, height, body mass index (BMI) and physical activity, and further adjustment for abdominal visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) volumes. Mean age was 58 years (range 45–81), mean BMI was 28 kg/m 2 (range 18–53). PAAT was not associated with cross-sectional area (β=-0.96, P=0.37), but was inversely associated with attenuation (β=-0.31, P