Is visceral fat a better predictor of the incidence of impaired glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes mellitus than subcutaneous abdominal fat: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.

Abstract

The aim of this review is to summarize the best available evidence on the contribution of 18 subcutaneous and/or intra-abdominal adipose tissues to the incidence of impaired glucose 19 tolerance and/or type 2 diabetes mellitus, in adults as well as to determine which type of 20 abdominal fat is a better predictor of these metabolic disorders. 21

Identification of sex-specific thresholds for accumulation of visceral adipose tissue in adults

“…Consistent with previous reports VAT mass in this study was shown to be significantly related to cardiometabolic risk, and this relation was stronger than with total fat mass or subcutaneous fat mass, noting that the latter was significantly greater above and below the threshold in females. Although below the percent fat threshold both VAT mass and cardiometabolic risk factors were similar in males and females, in individuals with percent fat above the threshold males had more VAT and a worse cardiometabolic profile.…”

“…However, at some point fat is also stored in ectopic depots, such as the visceral region. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) surrounds the internal organs in the abdominal region and has a significant association with cardiometabolic risk factors , independent of total fat mass. Thus, measurement of VAT has become an important marker for identifying cardiometabolic risk.…”