A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School has unveiled crucial insights into heart disease risk factors. Unlike previous studies that focused on overall body fat, this study highlights the significance of fat distribution, specifically intramuscular fat, in heightening the risk of heart disease. The research team, led by Dr. Viviany Taqueti, MD, MPH, Director of the Cardiac Stress Laboratory, meticulously examined data from 669 participants with an average age of 63 years.
These participants were assessed for chest pain and shortness of breath due to cardiac ischemia, a condition known as INOCA (Ischemia with No Coronary Atherosclerosis), yet showed no evidence of coronary artery disease. Utilizing CT scan measurements at specific abdominal levels, researchers quantified fat in relation to muscle to compare intramuscular with subcutaneous fat distribution. This marks the first large-scale study of its kind, offering new perspectives on fat distribution and heart health.
Dr. Taqueti emphasized the study's findings:
“This observational study found an association between specifically the ‘intramuscular’ fat and increased risk of developing heart disease. This is the first large-scale study to compare different types of fat distribution in the body (intramuscular vs. subcutaneous) and provides insight into how we might better assess someone’s health status by their fat distribution.” – Viviany Taqueti, MD, MPH
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, responsible for one in five fatalities. The study revealed that even a slight increase in fatty muscle fraction could significantly amplify heart disease risk. Specifically, a 1% rise in fatty muscle fraction correlated with a 2% increase in coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) risk and a 7% increase in the risk of future serious heart disease.
Dr. Taqueti further elaborated on the implications of these findings:
“Knowing that intermuscular fat raises the risk of heart disease gives us another way to identify people who are at high risk, regardless of their body mass index.” – Viviany Taqueti, MD, MPH
While the precise mechanisms linking intramuscular fat to heart disease remain unclear, Dr. Taqueti suggested possible avenues for further investigation:
“It is not yet clear why intramuscular fat might increase someone’s risk of developing heart disease. It is possible that the intramuscular fat increases inflammation in the surrounding tissues, which then affects the function of the blood vessels in the area. More study is needed to better understand this relationship.” – Viviany Taqueti, MD, MPH
The study also sheds light on potential preventive measures. Dr. Taqueti advised on lifestyle changes that could mitigate total body fat:
“In order to reduce total body fat, we advise patients to exercise regularly (both cardio and weight training) and eat a healthy diet higher in fiber and protein and lower in saturated fat and carbohydrates.” – Viviany Taqueti, MD, MPH
As technology advances, measuring intramuscular fat may become more accessible through innovative techniques:
“This study used CT scan measurements at a certain level of the abdomen to quantify the amount of fat in relation to the muscle detected. In the future, intramuscular fat might be measured through other techniques.” – Viviany Taqueti, MD, MPH
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