Age-Related Changes in Fat Mass and Distribution in Men-the Cross-Sectional STRAMBO Study

Data on age-related differences in fat mass and distribution in men are scarce. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of age-related differences in fat distribution in men. In a cohort of 1133 men aged 20-87 yr, body composition was assessed using a Hologic Discovery A device. We assessed fat mass (FM) and FM indices adjusted for height. Interindividual variability was calculated as standard deviation, interquartile range, and difference between the 95th and 5th percentiles in 5-yr age groups. After adjustment for lifestyle factors, the FM and FM index of appendicular, gynoid, central, android, and subcutaneous abdominal compartments increased with age. Their variability did not vary with age. Visceral FM was 181% higher in men aged >80 yr compared to men aged 20-30 yr, and the variability increased with age. FM in the central, android, subcutaneous abdominal, and visceral compartments correlated with age significantly more strongly before the age of 70 than after this age. The relative differences between the elderly and younger men were greater for visceral FM than for subcutaneous (abdominal and appendicular) fat. The interindividual variability in visceral FM is higher in elderly men. The association between visceral FM and age is stronger before the age of 70.