Visceral adipose tissue as a predictor for metabolic risk factors in the Korean population

AbstractWe evaluated the associations between metabolic parameters with visceral adipose tissue (VAT) volume in women with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and we compared the VAT volume with the VAT area. We enrolled women aged > 20 years with prediabetes or T2DM, who underwent oral glucose tolerance test and whose VAT was evaluated using computed tomography (CT) at our institution between 2017 and 2019. All participants underwent unenhanced spiral CT with a 3-mm slice thickness from the level of the diaphragm to the level of the mid-thigh. The two VAT areas were defined as the free drawn area on the levels of the umbilicus and L2 vertebra. The VAT areas were also manually drawn from the level of the diaphragm to the level of the pelvic floor and were used to calculate the VAT volumes by summing all areas with a slice thickness of 3 mm after setting the attenuation values from −45 to −195 Hounsfield Unit. All metabolic characteristics, except blood pressure, were significantly correlated with the VAT volume. The VAT areas measured at the level of the L2 vertebra and umbilicus were correlated with serum triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and Framingham steatosis index alone. Multivariable regression analyses revealed that the VAT volume was significantly associated with several metabolic parameters. In conclusion, in women with prediabetes and T2DM, the VAT volume acquired from CT-based calculation has more significant correlations with metabolic risk factors compared with the VAT area.

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Independent associations between liver fat, visceral adipose tissue, and metabolic risk factors in men

Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism ◽

10.1139/h06-112 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 32 (2) ◽

pp. 265-272 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Kathleen P. McMillan ◽

Jennifer L. Kuk ◽

Timothy S. Church ◽

Steven N. Blair ◽

Robert Ross

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Adipose Tissue ◽

Visceral Adipose Tissue ◽

Metabolic Profile ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Density Lipoprotein ◽

Metabolic Risk Factors ◽

Liver Fat ◽

Metabolic Risk ◽

Visceral Adipose

The independent associations between liver fat, visceral adipose tissue (AT), and metabolic risk factors are unclear. Although it has been reported that visceral AT is the strongest predictor of metabolic risk, liver fat has also been reported as a strong independent associate of a deleterious metabolic profile. We examined the independent associations between liver fat, visceral AT, and metabolic risk factors in a sample of 293 men varying widely in adiposity. Liver fat and abdominal AT were measured by computed tomography (CT). Univariate analysis revealed that liver fat was associated (p < 0.05) with triglycerides (TG), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and total cholesterol (TC), but not with glucose or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC). Liver fat remained a significant correlate (p < 0.05) of TG and TC after control for age and subcutaneous AT or cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), but not after adjustment for visceral AT alone. Conversely, visceral AT remained significantly associated with TG, SBP, glucose, HDLC (p < 0.01), and TC (p = 0.05) independent of liver fat, subcutaneous AT, CRF, and age. Both liver fat and visceral AT were associated with metabolic risk in men. However, when controlled for each other, visceral AT was the only independent associate of metabolic risk.

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