Associations of Serum Adipocyte Fatty Acid Binding Protein With Body Composition and Fat Distribution in Nondiabetic Chinese Women

Context: Previous studies have demonstrated evidence of a positive relationship between serum adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP) and obesity. However, associations of A-FABP with body composition and ectopic fat accumulation remain unclear. Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the effect of body composition, visceral fat area (VFA), and subcutaneous fat area (SFA) on serum A-FABP levels in a cohort of Chinese women without diabetes mellitus. Design, Setting, and Participants: A total of 2108 women without diabetes (760 premenopausal and 1348 postmenopausal women; age, 20-78 y) selected from the Shanghai Obesity Study were enrolled. Main Outcome Measures: VFA and SFA were measured by magnetic resonance imaging, and body composition was determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis. A high VFA was defined as >= 80 cm(2). A high SFA was defined as that above the 75th percentile cutoff point of the menopause-specific population, respectively. Results: Serum A-FABP levels were higher in postmenopausal than premenopausal women (P < .001). Both premenopausal and postmenopausal women with an isolated high VFA had higher A-FABP levels than did those with an isolated high SFA(P = .017 and .002, respectively). In both body mass index (BMI) groups (<25 and >= 25 kg/m(2)), women with a high VFA had higher serum A-FABP levels regardless of their menopausal status. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that A-FABP was independently associated with fat mass (Standardized beta = 0.417 and 0.252 for premenopausal and postmenopausal status, respectively, both P < .001). Moreover, VFA was identified as an independent risk factor for A-FABP in postmenopausal women (Standardized beta = 0.114, P = .001). Application of the same regression analyses model to the two BMI groups produced similar results in both BMI categories. Conclusions: Serum A-FABP levels were associated with fat mass, and were also influenced by VFA after menopause in Chinese women without diabetes mellitus.