The role of cardiac fat in insulin resistance

Abstract

Although cardiac fat is associated with impairment in heart metabolism and cardiac dysfunction, the interplay among cardiac fat accumulation, insulin resistance and cardiac dysfunction remains to be fully established.

CT-based analysis of pericoronary adipose tissue density: Relation to cardiovascular risk factors and epicardial adipose tissue volume

“…In order to rule out possible endocrinologic or medication effects on the composition of PCAT, we further excluded patients with diabetes mellitus and patients with dyslipidemia who had received at least 6 months of statin treatment. 10,11,15 Additionally, only those data sets were accepted which allowed the performance of the PCAT density measurement method in at least 2 out of 7 segments (due to e.g. extensive tortuosity of the target segment or a parallel course of the target vessel to a side branch which could possibly affect CT attenuation of contiguous PCAT, short length of segment (especially in the left main) or small diameter of segment (<2 mm)).…”

“…2,8,10e12 A weak correlation has been reported between PCAT volume and cardiovascular risk factors. 8,10,11 Whereas determination of volume and thickness of PCAT can be performed easily by non-invasive imaging, analysis of the PCAT composition requires the invasive excision of tissue samples followed by extensive molecular and histological work-up. This invasive approach represents a decisive disadvantage as studies can only be performed on autopsy samples or from patients undergoing cardiac surgery.…”

Higher pericardial adiposity is associated with prevalent diabetes: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study

“…However, adipose tissue surrounding the heart has also been associated with insulin resistance [6-8] and diabetes [9-11]. Pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) is an ectopic fat depot consisting of adipose tissues contained within the pericardium [epicardial, (EAT)] and surrounding the pericardium (paracardial) [12, 13].…”

“…Pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) is an ectopic fat depot consisting of adipose tissues contained within the pericardium [epicardial, (EAT)] and surrounding the pericardium (paracardial) [12, 13]. The pericardium restricts excessive EAT accumulation, therefore, increasing fat deposition with obesity primarily occurs external to the pericardium [6, 14]. …”

Determinants of intrathoracic adipose tissue volume and associations with cardiovascular disease risk factors in Amish

“…It is widely appreciated that cardiometabolic risk is influenced not only by the absolute quantity of adipose tissue accumulation but also by where it is distributed. For example, fat tissue in the abdominal visceral compartments may pose particular risk for metabolic diseases because these tissues actively secrete adipocytokines and inflammatory factors and are in close proximity to the abdominal internal organs [1-6]…”