Comparison of the Relative Contributions of Intra‐Abdominal and Liver Fat to Components of the Metabolic Syndrome

Abstract

Abdominally obese individuals with the metabolic syndrome often have excess fat deposition both intra‐abdominally (IA) and in the liver, but the relative contribution of these two deposits to variation in components of the metabolic syndrome remains unclear. We determined the mutually independent quantitative contributions of IA and liver fat to components of the syndrome, fasting serum (fS) insulin, and liver enzymes and measures of hepatic insulin sensitivity in 356 subjects (mean age 42 years, mean BMI 29.7 kg/m2) in whom liver fat and abdominal fat volumes were measured. IA and liver fat contents were correlated (r = 0.65, P < 0.0001). In multivariate linear regression analyses including either liver or IA fat, liver fat or IA fat explained variation in fS‐triglyceride (TG) and high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, plasma glucose, insulin and liver enzyme concentrations, and hepatic insulin sensitivity independent of age, gender, subcutaneous (SC) fat, and/or lean body mass (LBM). Including both liver and IA fat, liver and IA fat both explained variation in TG, HDL cholesterol, insulin and hepatic insulin sensitivity independent of each other and of age, gender, SC fat, and LBM. Liver fat independently predicted glucose and liver enzymes. SC fat and age explained variation in blood pressure. In conclusion, both IA and liver fat independently of each other explain variation in serum TG, HDL cholesterol, insulin concentrations and hepatic insulin sensitivity, thus supporting that both fat depots are important predictors of these components of the metabolic syndrome.

Prevalência de obesidade visceral estimada por equação preditiva em mulheres jovens pernambucanas

“…This finding was also observed by other authors 32,35 . Kotronen et al 32 found a positive and significant correlation between visceral fat and levels of TG, SBP and DBP (r = 0.36, 0.28 and 0.24, respectively) and a negative one with HDL (r = -0.38). Hayes et al 35 found, …”

“…However, this finding was not observed in other studies 4,10,31,32 . Romero-Corral et al 6 draw attention to the fact that the visceral fat is associated with endothelial dysfunction, even in the absence of blood pressure alterations.…”

Use of the Medifast Meal Replacement Program for Weight Loss in Overweight and Obese Clients: A Retrospective Chart Review of Three Medifast Weight Control Centers (MWCC)

“…Abdominal fat has been shown to be an independent risk factor for metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease [41], and contributes to health disease risk comparable to smoking [42]. Previous research has shown that a relatively modest decrease in waist circumference (WC) of ≥3 cm yielded significant improvement in cardiometabolic risk factors [43].…”

Overfeeding Polyunsaturated and Saturated Fat Causes Distinct Effects on Liver and Visceral Fat Accumulation in Humans

“…Although obesity is a major health concern, abdominal obesity is of greater clinical relevance. Accumulation of liver fat, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is present in ;25% of adults in Western countries and has been proposed as a causative factor in the development of cardiometabolic disorders and type 2 diabetes (4)(5)(6)(7)(8). In obesity, the prevalence of NAFLD is extremely high and may reach 75% (9).…”