CONTEXT: Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) activation is closely linked to obesity
however, the sex-specific associations between RAAS activity and body composition among individuals without obesity are not well understood. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associations of aldosterone and renin with body composition according to sex in the general population. DESIGN: Population-based cohort study. SETTING: Québec (Canada). PARTICIPANTS: Adults aged 40 to 69 years enrolled in CARTaGENE between 2009 and 2010 (N = 3687). EXPOSURES: Plasma aldosterone and renin concentrations. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Body composition assessed via anthropometrics (waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio), bioelectrical impedance (lean body mass, fat mass, and muscle mass), and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (epicardial and pericardial adipose tissue volumes). RESULTS: The mean (SD) age and body mass index were 55 (8) years and 27.3 (4.8) kg/m2, respectively. Among males, higher aldosterone and renin were associated with increased waist circumference, increased waist-to-hip ratio, increased fat mass, decreased lean body mass, and decreased muscle mass (P <
.05). Aldosterone (P = .02), but not renin (P = .43), was associated with increased ectopic cardiac adiposity in males. In contrast, higher renin (P <
.05), but not aldosterone (P ≥ .05), was associated with increased waist circumference, increased waist-to-hip ratio, and increased cardiac adiposity in females. Among females, higher renin and aldosterone were associated with increased fat mass (P <
.05) but were not associated with lean body mass or muscle mass (P ≥ .05). All aforementioned associations were independent of body weight. CONCLUSION: Independent of body weight, increased RAAS activity is associated with unfavorable differences in body composition
however, the strength and pattern of association varies by sex.