Abstract

In this study. the importance of body fat distribution as an indicator of metabolic aberrations in diabetics was'evaluated. Skinfold thicknesses at eight sites and circumferences at five sites and total body fat content were measured on 105 diabetics. 1) The waist/thigh girth ratio(WTR) was positively correlated(r=0.38-0.54) to plasma glucose levels during oral glucose loading in diabetic men alone. 2) There was no significant difference in serum total cholesterol of diabetics and nondiabetics. However, HDL-cholesterol was significantly lower(p : 0.000. in male and female) in diabetics(male : 36.31$\pm$ 16.98mg/dl, female: 37.89$\pm$14.67mg/dl) than nodiabetics(male 61.75$\pm$14.08mg/dl, female : 62.29$\pm$12.65mg/dl) and serum triglyceride was significantly higher(p=0.0212) in diabetic women(171.90$\pm$ 76.61mg/dl) than nondiabetic women(111.10$\pm$42.84mg/dl) . 3) In both sexes. anthropometric measurements that significantly correlated to serum triglyceride concentration were percentage of ideal body weight. body mass index(BMI) and waist circumference. Positive and significant correlations were found between serum cholestrol, and BMI(R: 0.31, 0.34) and waist circumference(r=0.29) in diabetic men. Moreover, skinfolds of trunk area(r=0.29~0.32) especially abdomen, were closely associated with serum lipids than other fat deposits. Increasing percentage of total body fat content was accompanied by progressively increasing serum triglyceride concentration(r=0.41) in dieabetic men. This study shows that knowledge of body fat localization may help identify risks of carbohydrate intolerance and hyperlipidemia in diabetics.

Keywords

• serum lipid;
• carbohydrate intolerance;
• diabetes mellitus;
• body fat distribution.