The journal of nutrition, health & aging
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J Nutr Health Aging · Nov 2009
Left ventricular mass, abdominal circumference and age: the Fels longitudinal study.
To determine the relationship of abdominal circumference with increased left ventricular mass (LVM) from young adulthood into old age. ⋯ In women, increases in abdominal fatness as reflected in abdominal circumference at any age are linearly related to an increase in LVM/ht2.7, but the relationship of overall fatness as reflected in BMI with LVM/ht2.7 is stronger. In men, both abdominal fatness and overall fatness at any age are linearly related to an increase LVM/ht2.7. However, the significant curvilinear association of abdominal circumference and a linear association of BMI and physical activity with LVM/ht2.7 indicate the possible positive covariate relationship of overall muscle mass with LVM/ht2.7. This reflects the physiological changes with age and demonstrate, in part, the complexity of the interpretations of the inter associations of body composition, the cardiovascular system and the aging process, but the impact among the elderly and the known inadequacy of BMI at these ages remains an area for continued clinical study.