Key result
Adjustment for BMI eliminated the associations between carotid IMT and intra-abdominal fat, indicating BMI and waist-to-hip ratio are better clinical predictors of atherosclerosis.
Why the study?
Does intra-abdominal fat play a primary role over general adiposity in predicting metabolic abnormalities and early carotid atherosclerosis in Japanese men?
Cross-Sectional (n=849)
Does intra-abdominal fat play a primary role over general adiposity in predicting metabolic abnormalities and early carotid atherosclerosis in Japanese men?
BMI and waist-to-hip ratio are simple and better clinical predictors for carotid atherosclerosis compared to intra-abdominal fat area, challenging the notion that intra-abdominal fat is the primary driver of atherosclerosis.
BMI and waist-to-hip ratio may outperform intra-abdominal fat measures clinically; leaves open visceral adiposity's independent role in cross-sectional data.
OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that intra-abdominal fat plays a primary role over general adiposity for metabolic abnormalities and atherosclerosis. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We cross-sectionally studied 849 Japanese men aged 50.3 +/- 8.5 years (range 20-78) with BMI 23.5 +/- 2.9 kg/m(2). Intimal-medial thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery was measured by ultrasound. General adiposity was assessed by BMI. Waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were used as a surrogate measure for abdominal fat. Abdominal subcutaneous fat area (ASF) and intra-abdominal fat area (IAF) were measured by computed tomography. Correlations between these measures and carotid IMT were analyzed. The interaction of generalized adiposity (BMI) and IAF in relation to metabolic variables, such as glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, and serum lipids, was also evaluated. RESULTS: BMI, waist circumference, WHR, ASF, and IAF were all correlated with carotid IMT. Adjustment for BMI eliminated the associations between IMT and waist circumference, ASF, and IAF. In contrast, WHR retained a significant correlation with IMT. BMI and IAF were associated with insulin resistance, glucose tolerance, HDL cholesterol, and blood pressure independently of each other. IAF was an independent correlate for serum triglyceride, but BMI was not. CONCLUSIONS: The primary importance of IAF over general adiposity for carotid atherosclerosis was not confirmed. Caution is recommended when using WHR as a measure of abdominal fat. The roles of IAF for metabolic abnormalities may be more limited than conventionally thought. BMI and WHR are simple and better clinical predictors for carotid atherosclerosis versus IAF.
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Takami et al. (2001) reported a cross-sectional. Intra-abdominal fat and general adiposity was evaluated on Carotid intimal-medial thickness (IMT). Adjustment for BMI eliminated the associations between carotid IMT and intra-abdominal fat, indicating BMI and waist-to-hip ratio are better clinical predictors of atherosclerosis.
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