Figure 1.
MRI measurements of adipose tissue depots.
(A) Volumetric assessment of EAT. The contours of EAT were outlined in end-diastolic images of short-axis views covering the whole left and right ventricle. (B) IMAT of the erector spinae muscles at L3–L4 disk level. IMAT is visible between muscle groups (white arrow) and beneath the muscle fascia (black arrow). Abdominal L3–L4 (C) and L4–L5 (D) MRI scans with representation of IAAT and SAT respectively (black arrows). The black arrow head indicates the fascia trasversalis dividing SAT into a deep and a superficial layer.
Table 1.
Gender-adjusted correlations of fat depots with age and waist circumference.
Figure 2.
Adipose tissue depots amounts according to age.
Erector spinae IMAT area (A), EAT total volume (B), IAAT (C) and SAT (D) areas in subjects ≤50 years and >50 years. *p<0.001, **p<0.05.
Table 2.
Study population characteristics according to age.
Figure 3.
Correlations of adipose tissue depots with waist circumference according to age.
Correlations of IMAT area (A), EAT total volume (B), SAT (C) and IAAT (D) areas with waist circumference. Solid lines represent correlations in younger subjects (≤50 years): IMAT: β = 0.46, p = 0.03; EAT: β = 0.63, p = 0.005; SAT: β = 0.81, p = 0.0001; IAAT: β = 0.51, p = 0.02 (gender-adjusted correlation coefficients). Dashed lines represent correlations in older subjects (>50 years): IMAT: β = 0.14, p = ns; EAT: β = −0.13, p = ns; IAAT: β = 0.54, p = 0.09; SAT: β = 0.76, p = 0.002.
Figure 4.
Correlation of IMAT with EAT according to age.
Correlations between IMAT area with EAT total volume. Solid lines represent the correlation in younger subjects (≤50 years) (β = 0.6, p = 0.007). Dashed lines represent the non significant correlation in older subjects (>50 years) (β = −0.3, p = ns).