Does Visceral Fat Estimated by Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry Independently Predict Cardiometabolic Risks in Adults?

Abstract

Background: Abdominal visceral fat, typically measured by computer tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), has been shown to correlate with cardiometabolic risks. The purpose of this study was to examine whether a newly developed and validated visceral fat measurement from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) provides added predictive value to the cross-sectional differences of cardiometabolic parameters beyond the traditional anthropometric and DXA adiposity parameters. Method: A heterogeneous cohort of 194 adults (81 males and 113 females) with a BMI of 19 to 54 kg/m2 participated in this cross-sectional study. Body composition was measured with a DXA densitometer. Visceral fat was then computed with a proprietary algorithm. Insulin sensitivity index (SI, measured by intravenous glucose tolerance test), blood pressures, and lipid profiles, and peak oxygen uptake were also measured as cardiometabolic risk parameters. Results: DXA-estimated visceral fat mass was associated with HDL cholesterol (regression coefficient [β] = −5.15, P < .01, adjusted R2 = .21), triglyceride (β = 26.01, P < .01, adjusted R2 = .14), and peak oxygen uptake (β = −3.15, P < .01, adjusted R2 = .57) after adjusting for age, gender, and ethnicity. A subanalysis stratifying gender-specific BMI tertiles showed visceral fat, together with ethnicity, was independently associated with SI in overweight men and moderately obese women (second tertile). Conclusions: Without requiring additional CT or MRI-based measurements, visceral fat detected by DXA might offer certain advantages over the traditional DXA adiposity parameters as means of assessing cardiometabolic risks.

Central obesity and risks of cardiovascular events and mortality in prevalent hemodialysis patients

“…Fat distribution can be assessed by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) [23], computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans but the high costs and sophistication of these methods limit their feasibility in clinical practice and other simpler methods have been used. In the current study, CT abdomen was performed in order to accurately assess trunk obesity and in order to assess the validity of CI in assessment of trunk obesity.…”

“…In fact, previous studies have demonstrated that increased visceral fat assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) or by the gold-standard methods, such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance, is associated with a cluster of cardiometabolic abnormalities including dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and inflammation in CKD patients [23], but the high costs and sophistication of these methods limit their feasibly in clinical practice, and other simpler methods like anthropometric measures have been used.…”

Body composition and physical fitness in women with bulimia nervosa or binge‐eating disorder

“…VAT is associated with a range of risk factors for lifestyle‐related diseases, such as insulin sensitivity and triglyceride and cholesterol levels (Bi et al, ; Rothney et al, ; Sasai et al, ). Eighteen (17.5%) participants with BN and 33 (62.3%) participants with BED had VAT levels above a previous suggested normative, healthy level of 300 g (Bosch et al, ).…”

Effects of colchicine in adults with metabolic syndrome: A pilot randomized controlled trial

“…Subjects who met inclusion criteria were seen as outpatients at the NIH CRC for measurements including: body weight, height, heart rate and blood pressure, as described above. Whole body and visceral fat mass was performed by dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry (GE Lunar iDXA, GE Healthcare, Madison, WI; software GE enCore 15 with CoreScan algorithm) . An insulin‐modified 3‐hour frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIVGTT) was performed in the morning after an overnight fast as described previously .…”

“…Whole body and visceral fat mass was performed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (GE Lunar iDXA, GE Healthcare, Madison, WI; software GE enCore 15 with Cor-eScan algorithm). 24 An insulin-modified 3-hour frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIVGTT) was performed in the morning after an overnight fast as described previously. 25,26 Briefly, two intravenous catheters were placed in the antecubital veins, one for the administration of glucose and insulin, and the other for blood sampling from the contralateral arm.…”