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Fat in Muscles Linked To Increased Heart Disease Risk

A recent study has highlighted a concerning link between fat deposits in muscles and an increased risk of heart-related deaths. Published on January 20 in the European Heart Journal, the research shows that people with fat stored within their muscles are more likely to die from heart problems such as heart failure, heart attack, or other cardiovascular issues. The study revealed that for every 1% increase in muscle fat, the risk of heart-related death increased by 7%.

Interestingly, individuals with a healthy body mass index (BMI) may still carry these dangerous fat deposits, suggesting that BMI alone is not a reliable indicator of heart health. The study found that the presence of fat in muscle tissue posed a risk independent of BMI and other well-known cardiovascular risk factors, providing a new way to identify individuals at higher risk for heart disease. According to Dr. Viviany Taqueti, the senior researcher on the study, this discovery can help pinpoint individuals at risk, even if they appear to have a healthy body weight.

Researchers studied nearly 670 patients at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, using CT scans to assess heart function and measure fat deposits in their muscles. They introduced the concept of the “fatty muscle fraction” to quantify the amount of fat in the muscles. The study followed these patients for about six years to observe the onset of heart-related events, revealing that those with higher muscle fat were more likely to develop coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD), a condition involving damage to the small blood vessels that supply the heart. For every 1% increase in muscle fat, the risk of developing CMD rose by 2%.

The presence of fatty muscle, along with CMD, was linked to a significantly higher risk of death or heart attack. However, those with higher amounts of lean muscle tissue had a lower risk, and fat stored beneath the skin did not seem to contribute to the risk of heart disease. Researchers believe that muscle fat may contribute to inflammation and disruptions in glucose metabolism, leading to insulin resistance and other metabolic issues that damage blood vessels, including those supplying the heart.

This study suggests that traditional measurements like BMI may not be sufficient to evaluate heart disease risk. While the findings add to the understanding of how fat within muscles impacts heart health, more research is needed to determine how to mitigate these risks, especially with new weight-loss treatments or therapies. Currently, it remains unclear how such treatments might affect fat in the muscles and its subsequent impact on cardiovascular health.