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Ethnic differences in visceral adipose tissue and markers of cardiometabolic risk in elite rugby union athletes
Abstract   Peer reviewed

Ethnic differences in visceral adipose tissue and markers of cardiometabolic risk in elite rugby union athletes

S Keating, Adam J Zemski, E Broad, D Marsh and Gary J Slater
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Vol.20(Supplement 3), p.62
Asics Sports Medicine Australia (SMA) Conference, 2017 (Malaysia, 25-Oct-2017–28-Oct-2017)
2017
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2017.09.318
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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2017.09.318View
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Abstract

Human Movement and Sports Science Public Health and Health Services
Background: Rugby union athletes display unique, position-specific body composition characteristics. Evidence suggests that Caucasian and Polynesian athletes exhibit differences in regional fat mass distribution; however, specific differences in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and metabolically detrimental visceral adipose tissue (VAT) have not been explored. While some evidence suggests that heavy-weight athletes have higher VAT than other athletes, no studies have quantified VAT in rugby union players using gold-standard imaging methods. We investigated the differences in VAT and SAT volume, and markers of cardiometabolic risk, in elite Caucasian and Polynesian rugby union athletes at the commencement of pre-season. Methods: Twenty-two elite male rugby union athletes (age 22.8±3.2 years, stature 186.8±8.4 cm, body mass 101.5±13.7 kg; forwards n = 11, backs n = 11) of Caucasian (n = 11) and Polynesian (n = 11) descent were recruited. VAT and SAT volumes were quantified via magnetic resonance imaging. Total-body and regional fat mass were quantified via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Blood samples were collected after an overnight fast for: total (TC), high- (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose and insulin. Independent t-tests evaluated differences between ethnicities and between positions. Pearson correlations determined associations between VAT and blood markers. Results: When compared with Caucasian participants, Polynesians exhibited significantly higher levels of VAT (777±611 cm3 vs 425±236 cm3, p = 0.04) and android fat (19.4±5.0% vs 14.5±3.8%, p = 0.02) and tended to have higher levels of SAT (3423±1529 cm3 vs 2289±1025 cm3, p = 0.056), but not total fat mass (p = 0.30). [LDL] was significantly higher in Polynesian participants (p = 0.02) with trends for higher [TC] (p = 0.057) and triglycerides (p = 0.051); however, means were within normal reference ranges. When grouped by position, forwards had significantly higher SAT than backs (3727±1415 cm3 vs 1986±652 cm3, p = 0.002), but there were no differences in VAT (p = 0.455). Higher VAT was associated with higher [TC] (r = 0.62, p = 0.002), [LDL] (r = 0.52, p = 0.01) and triglycerides (r = 0.60, p = 0.003). Discussion: Ethnicity-specific differences exist in the distribution of body fat in elite rugby union athletes, with Polynesians exhibiting higher VAT than Caucasians, which was associated with higher levels of blood lipids and lipoproteins. Given differences in overall body fat was not seen between the ethnicities, and higher VAT levels were not linked with the larger athletes (forwards), ethnicity may specifically play a role in increased metabolic risk, even in elite athletic populations. While adiposity levels were below values for increased risk, this may have implications post-career for Polynesian athletes.

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