Relationship of para- and perirenal fat and high-density lipoprotein and its function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background Para- and perirenal fat is a fat pad surrounding the kidneys. Recent researches have showed the association between para- and perirenal fat and cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis, hypertension and so on. Limited studies have explored the relation between para- and perirenal fat and serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) level, but the results were inconsistent. We aimed to assess the relationship between para-perirenal ultrasonographic fat thickness and serum HDL level and cholesterol efflux capacity of HDL in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods We recruited 58 subjects with T2DM and collected anthropometric indices including height, weight, waist circumference and so on. Para-perirenal ultrasonographic fat thickness (PUFT) was measured via ultrasound. Serum lipid profile and other metabolic indices were determined as well. Then we analyzed the relationship between PUFT and HDL level and cholesterol efflux capacity in all patients and subgroups divided by gender and body mass index (BMI). Results Patients with higher PUFT have lower serum HDL level but increased cholesterol efflux capacity of HDL. Further analysis showed that PUFT negatively correlated with serum HDL level in all patients, with no difference in group divided by BMI. While subgroup analysis divided by gender indicated that the relationship only existed in males. In addition, PUFT was positively correlated with cholesterol efflux capacity in all patients. However, subgroup analysis showed that PUFT did not significantly correlated with cholesterol efflux capacity in males and BMI ≥28kg/m 2 . Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed an independent association of PUFT and serum HDL level and cholesterol efflux capacity. Conclusions PUFT is closely correlated with serum HDL level and cholesterol efflux capacity in patients with T2DM.