In order to document a genetic or familial component of directly-imaged CT adipose tissue traits, we previously performed heritability analyses of VAT (h2 36%) and SAT (h2 57%) [20]. For the present analysis, we additionally calculated the heritability of VAT and SAT in the Family Heart Study and the VAT/SAT ratio in both the Family Heart Study and the Framingham Heart Study. In the Family Heart Study, the heritability of VAT and SAT was 36% and 44%, respectively. The heritability of the VAT/SAT ratio was 43%; after adjustment for either BMI or VAT, the heritability was not materially different (44% and 47%, respectively). Similarly, we found that the heritability of the VAT/SAT ratio was 55% (p<0.0001) in the Framingham Heart Study, which was essentially unchanged after adjustment for BMI (h2 55%) or VAT (64%).
