Intramyocellular Lipid Is Associated with Visceral Adiposity, Markers of Insulin Resistance, and Cardiovascular Risk in Prepubertal Children: The EPOCH Study

Context: The intramyocellular deposition of lipid associates with metabolic dysregulation in adolescents and adults. Relatively little is known about the deposition of fat in muscle before the onset of puberty. Objective: Our objective was to describe the relationship between intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) accumulation and 1) visceral adiposity and 2) markers of insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease risk in a cohort of prepubertal and early pubertal children. Study Design: Data were collected as part of a retrospective cohort study, Exploring Perinatal Outcomes among Children (EPOCH). Multiple linear regression models were constructed for data analysis. Results: A total of 441 children participated in the study (226 prepubertal, 215 early pubertal). In prepubertal children, there was a significant relationship between IMCL and visceral fat (parameter estimate 0.019, P = 0.002) that remained after controlling for body mass index. Independent of overall adiposity, in all children, IMCL was associated with the triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein ratio (parameter estimate 0.1418, P = 0.002). Conclusions: This study demonstrates a concerning and related pattern of IMCL and visceral fat deposition in prepubertal children. Intramuscular fat deposition is linked to markers of insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease risk. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 97: E1099-E1105, 2012)