O-23 Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior and Muscle Health: The Tobago Health Study
Author(s):
I Miljkovic , R Cvejkus , A Acevedo-Fontanez , A Kuipers , C Rosano , and V Wheeler
Year of Presentation:
2024
Objective: Increased skeletal muscle adipose tissue infiltration (i.e. myosteatosis) is now recognized as a major risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases. Therefore, a lifestyle modification that reduces myosteatosis would be of great public health importance. However, studies examining the association of relevant lifestyle factors with this adiposity depot are lacking, particularly in the Caribbean region. Thus, we examined an association of objective measures of physical activity and sedentary behavior with myosteatosis among Tobagonian African Caribbeans.
Methods: Analyses were conducted among 355 men (mean age 62 years) and 682 women (mean age 59 years), par- ticipants of the Tobago Health Study. Objectively measured physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) were col- lected using Bodymedia SenseWear armbands worn over 7 days. Calf muscle area (cm2) and muscle density (mg/cm3, a marker of intra-muscular fat), were measured using Stratec XCT-2000 scanner.
Results: Women spent less time in light PA (LPA) (144 vs. 270 min/day) and moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) (14 vs. 41 min/day), but more time in SB (813 vs. 645 min/day) than men (age-adjusted p<0.0001). Muscle density was lower (i.e more muscle adiposity infilration) among women (71.7 mg/cm3) compared with men (72.7 mg/cm3; age- and BMI -adjusted P=0.037). After adjusting for age. BMI, smoking and alcohol intake, in both women and men, MVPA was positively associated with muscle density (r=0.08 and 0.18, respectively, P<0.05) and muscle area (r=0.11 and 0.20, respectively, P<0.05), while LPA was positively associated with muscle area only (r=0.08 and 0.11, respectively P=0.05).
Conclusion: Our novel findings indicate that there is significant association between MVPA and myosteatosis and muscle area among Tobagonian African Caribbeans, while LPA may be relevant for muscle area only. Promoting interventions to increase physical activity intensity may have an impact on lowering myosteatosis, an adipose tissue depot with an emerging role in cardio-metabolic health.