Relationships between fat deposition in the liver and skeletal muscle and insulin sensitivity in Japanese individuals: a pilot study

Abstract

Purpose:To evaluate the relationships between insulin sensitivity (IS), body fat accumulation, and aerobic capacity in middle- to older-aged Japanese participants with visceral adiposity.Participants and methods:Aerobic capacity was measured during an incremental ramp exercise test. Computed tomography was used to measure visceral (VFA) and subcutaneous (SFA) fat area, the fat in liver-to-spleen ratio (L/S), and low-density skeletal muscle area (LDMA). IS was assessed using euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamps.Results:A total of 11 males and 9 females, age 58 ± 9 years (mean ± standard deviation), body mass index 29 ±4.1 kg/m2, and VFA 190 ±53 cm2 participated in this study. In unadjusted models, VFA, LDMA, and L/S were significantly correlated with IS, which remained in adjusted models for LDMA and L/S, but not for VFA. In multiple stepwise regression analysis including sex, age, body fat, VFA, SFA, alcohol consumption, and aerobic capacity (oxygen uptake at the lactate threshold), L/S, and LDMA accounted for 70% of the total variance in IS. Percentage body fat and SFA, but not VFA, were significantly correlated with high molecular-weight adiponectin levels (r = 0.58, P < 0.01 and r = 0.54, P < 0.05, respectively). IS and L/S were significantly and negatively correlated with tumor necrosis factor-α (r = −0.67 and −0.63, respectively; both P < 0.01) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (r = −0.58, P < 0.01 and −0.52, P < 0.05, respectively), whereas LDMA was not.Conclusion:These findings indicate that ectopic fat deposition in the liver and skeletal muscle may be associated with peripheral IS independently of body fat accumulation and aerobic capacity in middle- to older-aged Japanese individuals with visceral adiposity. Because of the small sample size, additional larger studies are needed to provide further insight into these preliminary findings.

Combined effect of body mass index and waist-height ratio on incident diabetes; a population based cohort study

“…( 29 ) Ectopic fat accumulation, which has a close association with visceral adiposity, is reported to be strongly correlated with insulin resistance. ( 30 ) Unfortunately, we did not have data of the presence of NAFLD in this study population. Thus, the concept of metabolically abnormal or presence of NAFLD is almost same as presence of abdominal obesity.…”

Head fat is a novel method of measuring metabolic disorder in Chinese obese patients

“…As we known, increased regional lipid content in the liver and muscle are associated with insulin resistance [15,16]. NC is not only associated with obesity and regional fat distribution, but also can be used for clinical screening of insulin resistance in high risk populations [17,18].…”

Changes in adiponectin level and fat distribution in patients with type 2 diabetes

“…Excess weight is a well‐known risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), albeit the precise mechanisms linking these conditions have not been fully elucidated. Aside from still largely unexplored genetic predispositions, studies have identified possible connections between weight gain and T2DM which involve unfavourable visceral fat deposition (particularly in the liver, pancreas and skeletal muscles) , increased production of proinflammatory cytokines by the adipose tissue , abnormal fatty acid metabolism , reduced levels of adiponectin and cellular processes such as mitochondrial dysfunction and endoplasmic reticulum stress .…”