Association between visceral adipose tissue volume, measured using computed tomography, and cardio-metabolic risk factors

• Published in: Scientific reports 2022-01, Vol.12 (1), p.387-387, Article 387
• Main Authors: Yi, Wook, Kim, Keunyoung, Im, Myungsoo, Ryang, Soree, Kim, Eun Heui, Kim, Mijin, Jeon, Yun Kyung, Kim, Sang Soo, Kim, Bo Hyun, Pak, Kyoungjune, Kim, In Joo, Kim, Seong-Jang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 692/163/2743; 692/163/2743/2037; Adipose tissue; Adiposity; Aged; Biomarkers - blood; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Blood pressure; Body fat; Cardiometabolic Risk Factors; Cholesterol; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Computed tomography; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent); Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - diagnostic imaging; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - physiopathology; Fatty Liver - blood; Fatty Liver - diagnostic imaging; Fatty Liver - physiopathology; Female; Glucose tolerance; Glucose Tolerance Test; High density lipoprotein; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Intra-Abdominal Fat - diagnostic imaging; Intra-Abdominal Fat - physiopathology; Metabolic Syndrome - blood; Metabolic Syndrome - diagnostic imaging; Metabolic Syndrome - physiopathology; Metabolism; Middle Aged; multidisciplinary; Prediabetic State - blood; Prediabetic State - diagnostic imaging; Prediabetic State - physiopathology; Predictive Value of Tests; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Risk factors; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Spine; Steatosis; Tomography; Tomography, Spiral Computed; Triglycerides - blood; Umbilicus; Vertebrae
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-04402-5

We evaluated the associations between metabolic parameters with visceral adipose tissue (VAT) volume in women with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and we compared the VAT volume with the VAT area. We enrolled women aged > 20 years with prediabetes or T2DM, who underwent oral glucose tolerance test and whose VAT was evaluated using computed tomography (CT) at our institution between 2017 and 2019. All participants underwent unenhanced spiral CT with a 3-mm slice thickness from the level of the diaphragm to the level of the mid-thigh. The two VAT areas were defined as the free drawn area on the levels of the umbilicus and L2 vertebra. The VAT areas were also manually drawn from the level of the diaphragm to the level of the pelvic floor and were used to calculate the VAT volumes by summing all areas with a slice thickness of 3 mm after setting the attenuation values from −45 to −195 Hounsfield Unit. All metabolic characteristics, except blood pressure, were significantly correlated with the VAT volume. The VAT areas measured at the level of the L2 vertebra and umbilicus were correlated with serum triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and Framingham steatosis index alone. Multivariable regression analyses revealed that the VAT volume was significantly associated with several metabolic parameters. In conclusion, in women with prediabetes and T2DM, the VAT volume acquired from CT-based calculation has more significant correlations with metabolic risk factors compared with the VAT area.