Overweight and obese individuals exhibit a ~0.6-year increase in subcutaneous triglyceride age compared to lean individuals, while visceral triglyceride age only increases in excessive obesity.
Cross-Sectional (n=346)
Does fat mass and distribution impact lipid turnover in human visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue?
Excess white adipose tissue results in depot-specific differences in lipid turnover, with subcutaneous tissue plateauing in storage capacity at lower levels of excess mass than visceral tissue, which may contribute to metabolic complications in obesity.
Effect estimate: ~0.6 years higher
p-value: p=0.005
Differences in white adipose tissue (WAT) lipid turnover between the visceral (vWAT) and subcutaneous (sWAT) depots may cause metabolic complications in obesity. Here we compare triglyceride age and, thereby, triglyceride turnover in vWAT and sWAT biopsies from 346 individuals and find that subcutaneous triglyceride age and storage capacity are increased in overweight or obese individuals. Visceral triglyceride age is only increased in excessively obese individuals and associated with a lower lipid removal capacity. Thus, although triglyceride storage capacity in sWAT is higher than in vWAT, the former plateaus at substantially lower levels of excess WAT mass than vWAT. In individuals with central or visceral obesity, lipid turnover is selectively increased in vWAT. Obese individuals classified as 'metabolically unhealthy' (according to ATPIII criteria) who have small subcutaneous adipocytes exhibit reduced triglyceride turnover. We conclude that excess WAT results in depot-specific differences in lipid turnover and increased turnover in vWAT and/or decreased turnover in sWAT may result in metabolic complications of overweight or obesity.
Spalding et al. (Tue,) conducted a cross-sectional in Obesity and Overweight (n=346). Overweight and obesity (excess fat mass and distribution) vs. Lean individuals was evaluated on Triglyceride age in subcutaneous white adipose tissue (sWAT) (~0.6 years higher, p=0.005). Overweight and obese individuals exhibit a ~0.6-year increase in subcutaneous triglyceride age compared to lean individuals, while visceral triglyceride age only increases in excessive obesity.