Background: This study was carried out to assess the relation of lumbar regional fat percent by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and cardiovascular risk factors in women.
Methods: Seventy-eight women were included for this study. Data were collected among healthy women visiting for periodic health examination in Dongsan Medical Center, Daegu, Korea. They were no history of metabolic disorder, steroid use, and recent weight loss. Anthropometric data were weight, height, waist and hip circumference. Measurement of abdominal visceral fat amount by single slice abdominal CT on L4-5, lumbar regional fat % (L2-4) by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry were determined. Cardiovascular risk factors were blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and atherogenic index.
Results: Lumbar regional fat % was significantly correlated with serum lipid and blood pressure (all P<0.05). Waist circumference was significantly correlated with triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, and blood pressure (all P<0.05). Abdominal visceral fat amount was correlated with serum lipid and blood pressure (all P<0.05), except LDL cholesterol (P>0.05). It was found that lumbar regional fat % by DEXA was a predictor of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and atherogenic index in this study (R2=0.15, R2=0.27, R2=0.36).
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that lumbar regional fat % is highly correlated with cardiovascular risk factors in women.

Keywords: lumbar region, Fat, Cardiovascular risk, X Ray Absorptiometry Dual Energy