Breast adiposity in menopause tied to adverse metabolic, body composition parameters

In postmenopausal women, breast adiposity appears to influence various adverse body composition and metabolic factors, suggests a study.

“Ectopic fat depots are related to the deregulation of energy homeostasis, leading to diseases related to obesity and metabolic syndrome. Despite significant changes in body composition over women's lifespans, little is known about the role of breast adipose tissue and its possible utilization as an ectopic fat depot in women of different menopausal statuses.

This cross-section study included adult women undergoing routine mammograms. The authors conducted history and physical examination, body composition assessment, semi-automated assessment of breast adiposity from mammograms, and fasting blood collection for biochemical analysis.

The associations of breast adiposity with metabolic and body composition parameters were explored via correlations and multivariate regression analysis.

One hundred one women were included in the final analysis, of whom 76.2 percent were in menopause and 23.8 percent in premenopause.

Among women in postmenopause, breast adiposity showed a positive association with fasting plasma glucose, glycated haemoglobin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, body mass index, waist circumference, body fat percentage, and abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat when adjusted for age. Breast adiposity also independently predicted hyperglycaemia and metabolic syndrome.

Such associations were not found in premenopausal women.

“The results suggest that there might be a relevant BrAT endocrine role during menopause, with mechanisms yet to be clarified, thus opening up research perspectives on the subject and potential clinical implications,” the authors said.