Association between body composition indices and vascular health: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Objective This systematic review explores the intricate relationship between body composition, with a specific focus on skeletal muscle mass, and vascular health indices, including measures of arterial stiffness—pulse wave velocity (PWV) and cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI)—as well as art...

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Main Authors: Mohammad Nikoohemmat, Amirhossein Ramezani Ahmadi, Ali Valizadeh, Seyed Mohammadmisagh Moteshakereh, Reza Yari-Boroujeni, Zahra Seifi, Majid Valizadeh, Behnaz Abiri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-01-01
Series:Eating and Weight Disorders
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-025-01714-7
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author Mohammad Nikoohemmat
Amirhossein Ramezani Ahmadi
Ali Valizadeh
Seyed Mohammadmisagh Moteshakereh
Reza Yari-Boroujeni
Zahra Seifi
Majid Valizadeh
Behnaz Abiri
author_facet Mohammad Nikoohemmat
Amirhossein Ramezani Ahmadi
Ali Valizadeh
Seyed Mohammadmisagh Moteshakereh
Reza Yari-Boroujeni
Zahra Seifi
Majid Valizadeh
Behnaz Abiri
author_sort Mohammad Nikoohemmat
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective This systematic review explores the intricate relationship between body composition, with a specific focus on skeletal muscle mass, and vascular health indices, including measures of arterial stiffness—pulse wave velocity (PWV) and cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI)—as well as arterial structure, specifically carotid artery intima–media thickness (cIMT). Methods An extensive literature search, encompassing PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, was conducted until January 2024. Inclusion criteria involved original observational studies, with cross-sectional or longitudinal designs, reporting body composition parameters and vascular health measures. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) assessed study quality. Statistical analyses utilized Stata 17.0, employing random-effects meta-analysis, sensitivity analysis, and evaluation of publication bias. Results Fifteen observational studies (n = 21,215) met the inclusion criteria. Pooled analyses revealed a positive association between fat-free mass (FFM) and carotid intima–media thickness (IMT) (effect size [ES]: 1.79, 95% CI 1.68–1.91), highlighting a relationship with arterial structure. Similarly, body fat percentage (BFP) was positively associated with PWV (ES: 1.45, 95% CI 1.15–1.82), and FFM showed a positive association with CAVI (ES: 1.46, 95% CI 0.78–2.71), both measures of arterial stiffness. Subgroup analyses revealed a non-significant association between appendicular skeletal muscle (ASM) and IMT (ES: 1.01, 95% CI 0.76–1.35). Conclusion This meta-analysis highlights the complex relationship between body composition and vascular health. Subgroup analyses suggest the need for further research into specific body composition indices and their clinical implications. Level of evidence: III evidence obtained from well-designed cohort and cross-sectional studies.
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spelling doaj-art-f32d3ddc4509408ea2c0ec017d4f5c572025-01-19T12:04:57ZengSpringerEating and Weight Disorders1590-12622025-01-0130111410.1007/s40519-025-01714-7Association between body composition indices and vascular health: a systematic review and meta-analysisMohammad Nikoohemmat0Amirhossein Ramezani Ahmadi1Ali Valizadeh2Seyed Mohammadmisagh Moteshakereh3Reza Yari-Boroujeni4Zahra Seifi5Majid Valizadeh6Behnaz Abiri7Obesity Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesIsfahan Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical SciencesObesity Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesObesity Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesObesity Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesObesity Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesObesity Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesObesity Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesAbstract Objective This systematic review explores the intricate relationship between body composition, with a specific focus on skeletal muscle mass, and vascular health indices, including measures of arterial stiffness—pulse wave velocity (PWV) and cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI)—as well as arterial structure, specifically carotid artery intima–media thickness (cIMT). Methods An extensive literature search, encompassing PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, was conducted until January 2024. Inclusion criteria involved original observational studies, with cross-sectional or longitudinal designs, reporting body composition parameters and vascular health measures. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) assessed study quality. Statistical analyses utilized Stata 17.0, employing random-effects meta-analysis, sensitivity analysis, and evaluation of publication bias. Results Fifteen observational studies (n = 21,215) met the inclusion criteria. Pooled analyses revealed a positive association between fat-free mass (FFM) and carotid intima–media thickness (IMT) (effect size [ES]: 1.79, 95% CI 1.68–1.91), highlighting a relationship with arterial structure. Similarly, body fat percentage (BFP) was positively associated with PWV (ES: 1.45, 95% CI 1.15–1.82), and FFM showed a positive association with CAVI (ES: 1.46, 95% CI 0.78–2.71), both measures of arterial stiffness. Subgroup analyses revealed a non-significant association between appendicular skeletal muscle (ASM) and IMT (ES: 1.01, 95% CI 0.76–1.35). Conclusion This meta-analysis highlights the complex relationship between body composition and vascular health. Subgroup analyses suggest the need for further research into specific body composition indices and their clinical implications. Level of evidence: III evidence obtained from well-designed cohort and cross-sectional studies.https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-025-01714-7Body compositionArterial healthMeta-analysisVascular healthCardiovascular risk
spellingShingle Mohammad Nikoohemmat
Amirhossein Ramezani Ahmadi
Ali Valizadeh
Seyed Mohammadmisagh Moteshakereh
Reza Yari-Boroujeni
Zahra Seifi
Majid Valizadeh
Behnaz Abiri
Association between body composition indices and vascular health: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Eating and Weight Disorders
Body composition
Arterial health
Meta-analysis
Vascular health
Cardiovascular risk
title Association between body composition indices and vascular health: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full Association between body composition indices and vascular health: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_fullStr Association between body composition indices and vascular health: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Association between body composition indices and vascular health: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_short Association between body composition indices and vascular health: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_sort association between body composition indices and vascular health a systematic review and meta analysis
topic Body composition
Arterial health
Meta-analysis
Vascular health
Cardiovascular risk
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-025-01714-7
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