Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy shows lower intramyocellular lipid accumulation in middle-aged subjects predisposed to familial longevity

Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2012 Feb 1;302(3):E344-8. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00455.2011. Epub 2011 Nov 15.

Abstract

Families predisposed to longevity show enhanced glucose tolerance and skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity compared with controls, independent of body composition and physical activity. Intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) accumulation in skeletal muscle has been associated with insulin resistance. Here, we assessed whether subjects enriched for familial longevity have lower IMCL levels. We determined IMCL levels in 48 subjects from the Leiden Longevity Study, comprising 24 offspring of nonagenarian siblings and 24 partners thereof as control subjects. IMCL levels were assessed noninvasively using short echo time proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) of the tibialis anterior muscle with a 7 Tesla human MR scanner. IMCL levels were calculated relative to the total creatine (tCr) CH3 signal. Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). After correction for age, sex, BMI, and physical activity, offspring of long-lived nonagenarian siblings tended to show lower IMCL levels compared with controls (IMCL/tCr: 3.1 ± 0.5 vs. 4.5 ± 0.5, respectively, P = 0.051). In a pairwise comparison, this difference reached statistical significance (P = 0.038). We conclude that offspring of nonagenarian siblings predisposed to longevity show lower IMCL levels compared with environmentally matched control subjects. Future research should focus on assessing what mechanisms may explain the lower IMCL levels in familial longevity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult Children
  • Aged
  • Body Mass Index
  • Cohort Studies
  • Family Health*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Leg
  • Lipid Metabolism*
  • Longevity*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Male
  • Matched-Pair Analysis
  • Middle Aged
  • Motor Activity
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / metabolism*
  • Netherlands
  • Siblings
  • Surveys and Questionnaires