The association between muscle-to-fat ratio and cardiometabolic risks: The China National Health Survey

Background: The relationship between muscle mass and fat mass might be an indicator to assess the cardiometabolic risk independently from overweight/obesity, but evidence from a representative general Chinese population is lacking.Objective: To understand the age- and sex-specific associations between muscle-to-fat ratio (MFR) and cardiometabolic risks in Chinese population.Methods: 31,178 (12,526 men and 18,652 women) subjects from the China National Health Survey were included. Muscle mass and fat mass were assessed by a bioelectrical impedance device. MFR was calculated as muscle mass divided by fat mass. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), serum lipids, fasting plasma glucose and serum uric acid were measured. General linear regressions, quantile regressions and restricted cubic-spline (RCS) regressions were applied to assess the effect of MFR on cardiometabolic profiles.Results: Per unit increase of MFR was associated with a 0.631 (0.759-0.502) mmHg SBP decrease in men, 2.648 (3.073-2.223) in women; 0.480 (0.568-0.392) mmHg DBP decrease in men, 2.049 (2.325-1.774) in women; a 0.054 (0.062-0.046) mmol/L total cholesterol decrease in men, 0.147 (0.172-0.122) in women; 0.084 (0.098-0.070) mmol/L triglycerides decrease in men, 0.225 (0.256-0.194) in women; a 0.045 (0.054-0.037) mmol/L low-density lipoprotein decrease in men, 0.183 (0.209-0.157) in women; a 2.870 (2.235-3.506) mu mol/L serum uric acid decrease in men, 13.352 (14.967-11.737) in women; and a 0.027 (0.020-0.033) mmol/L highdensity lipoprotein increase in men, 0.112 (0.098-0.126) mmol/L in women. The effect in overweight/obese people was much significant than in under/normal weight counterparts. The RCS curves revealed both linear and non-linear relationships between increased MFR and lower cardiometabolic risk. Conclusions: Muscle-to-fat ratio is independently associated with multiple cardiometabolic parameters among Chinese adults. Higher MFR is related with better cardiometabolic health, and the effect is much significant in overweight/obese people and women.

Automated summary

This study investigated the relationship between muscle-to-fat ratio and cardiometabolic risk in a representative Chinese population. The results showed that increased muscle-to-fat ratio was associated with lower cardiometabolic risk, particularly in overweight/obese individuals and women.