Genetic Variants Associated with Visceral Fat Accumulation Correlate with Longevity

It is well established that excess visceral fat is harmful. This tissue is metabolically active, and generates increased chronic inflammation through numerous mechanisms: a greater number of senescent cells; signaling by fat cells that appears similar to that produced by infected cells; increased debris from dead and dying fat cells that provokes the immune system. Overweight and obese people have a shorter life expectancy, greater incidence of age-related disease, and higher lifetime medical costs, with these disadvantages increasing with a larger burden of visceral fat tissue. It is not surprising, therefore, to find that genetic variations that correlate with increased visceral fat accumulation in humans also correlate with a shorter life expectancy. Several studies have shown that obesity is a risk factor for numerous diseases, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary artery disease, stroke, fatty liver disease, sleep-disordered breathing, mental health, and cancer. Obesity has also been shown to be closely related to all-cause mortality. Several observational studies revealed that obesity could accelerate the aging process. Moreover, a meta-analysis indicated that people with extreme obesity may have a reduced life expectancy by about 14 years. However, there is little evidence on the causal relationship between genetic influence of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) accumulation and longevity. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis is a useful appro...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs