Mirva Rottensteiner1, Tuija Leskinen1,2, Elina Järvelä-Reijonen3, Karoliina Väisänen4, Sari Aaltonen1,5, Jaakko Kaprio6,7, Urho M Kujala1. 1. Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland. 2. Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. 3. Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland. 4. School of Business and Services Management, JAMK University of Applied Sciences, Jyväskylä, Finland. 5. Department of Public Health and Department of Social Research, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. 6. Department of Public Health, and Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland. 7. Department of Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate differences in abdominal fat compartments between young adult monozygotic twin pairs discordant for leisure-time physical activity. METHODS: Ten young adult male monozygotic twin pairs (age range 32-36 years) discordant for leisure-time physical activity during the past 3 years were systematically selected from a population-based Finnish twin cohort. Magnetic resonance image at the level of the L2-L3 intervertebral disc was used to predict intra-abdominal and subcutaneous abdominal fat masses. Dietary intake was assessed with a 4-day food diary. RESULTS: Inactive twins had 31% more intra-abdominal fat than their active co-twins (mean difference 0.52 kg, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.91, P = 0.016), whereas the difference in subcutaneous abdominal fat was only 13% (P = 0.21) and 3% in body mass index (P = 0.28). Intraperitoneal fat mass was 41% higher among inactive twins compared to their active co-twins (mean difference 0.41 kg, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.70, P = 0.012). Dietary intake did not differ between co-twins. CONCLUSIONS: A lower level of physical activity is related to greater accumulation of intra-abdominal fat among healthy adult males in their mid-30s. The findings highlight the importance of leisure-time physical activity independent of genes and diet in the prevention of intra-abdominal fat accumulation from early adulthood onward.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate differences in abdominal fat compartments between young adult monozygotic twin pairs discordant for leisure-time physical activity. METHODS: Ten young adult male monozygotic twin pairs (age range 32-36 years) discordant for leisure-time physical activity during the past 3 years were systematically selected from a population-based Finnish twin cohort. Magnetic resonance image at the level of the L2-L3 intervertebral disc was used to predict intra-abdominal and subcutaneous abdominal fat masses. Dietary intake was assessed with a 4-day food diary. RESULTS: Inactive twins had 31% more intra-abdominal fat than their active co-twins (mean difference 0.52 kg, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.91, P = 0.016), whereas the difference in subcutaneous abdominal fat was only 13% (P = 0.21) and 3% in body mass index (P = 0.28). Intraperitoneal fat mass was 41% higher among inactive twins compared to their active co-twins (mean difference 0.41 kg, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.70, P = 0.012). Dietary intake did not differ between co-twins. CONCLUSIONS: A lower level of physical activity is related to greater accumulation of intra-abdominal fat among healthy adult males in their mid-30s. The findings highlight the importance of leisure-time physical activity independent of genes and diet in the prevention of intra-abdominal fat accumulation from early adulthood onward.
Authors: Urho M Kujala; Tuija Leskinen; Mirva Rottensteiner; Sari Aaltonen; Mika Ala-Korpela; Katja Waller; Jaakko Kaprio Journal: Scand J Med Sci Sports Date: 2022-07-07 Impact factor: 4.645
Authors: Jari E Karppinen; Mirva Rottensteiner; Petri Wiklund; Kaisa Hämäläinen; Eija K Laakkonen; Jaakko Kaprio; Heikki Kainulainen; Urho M Kujala Journal: Eur J Appl Physiol Date: 2019-10-31 Impact factor: 3.078