Association between visceral adiposity index and endometriosis: a population-based study
Jiajia Zhang1, Qian Zhang1, Tianyu Chu1
1Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.
Frontiers in Nutrition
|August 5, 2025
Summary
The visceral adiposity index (VAI) is positively associated with endometriosis risk. This study found a significant link between higher VAI and increased odds of endometriosis, highlighting VAI as a potential indicator.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Metabolic Health
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Obesity and endometriosis share complex links, with Body Mass Index (BMI) being a common but limited measure.
- The Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) offers a novel, cost-effective assessment of visceral fat accumulation and metabolic status.
- Understanding novel obesity indicators like VAI is crucial for endometriosis research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) and endometriosis.
- To evaluate VAI as a potential indicator for endometriosis risk.
- To explore the relationship between visceral adiposity and endometriosis prevalence.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study utilizing NHANES data (1999-2006) of participants aged 20 years and older.
- Employed multivariable-adjusted logistic regression, trend tests, sensitivity, subgroup analyses, and Restricted Cubic Spline (RCS) curves.
- Included 2,056 participants, with 163 diagnosed with endometriosis.
Main Results:
- A significant positive association was observed between VAI and endometriosis (OR=1.08, 95% CI: 1.04-1.12, p < 0.001).
- Restricted Cubic Spline analysis revealed a linear positive correlation between VAI and endometriosis (p-overall < 0.001).
- Subgroup analyses indicated no statistically significant interaction effects from demographic, lifestyle, or reproductive factors.
Conclusions:
- The study confirms a statistically significant association between VAI and endometriosis.
- VAI may serve as a valuable indicator in assessing endometriosis risk.
- Further large-scale prospective cohort studies are recommended to validate these findings given the unclear etiology of endometriosis.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Obesity
615
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in...
615
01:29Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation
687
Although not a source of energy, cholesterol plays a significant role as a foundational structure for bile salts, steroid hormones, and vitamin D, as well as being a crucial component of plasma membranes. Approximately 15% of blood cholesterol is derived from our diet, with the remainder synthesized from acetyl CoA by the liver and intestines. Cholesterol is eliminated from the body through its conversion into bile salts, which are eventually discarded in the feces.
Considering cholesterol and...
Considering cholesterol and...
687
02:07Oogenesis
64.4K
In human women, oogenesis produces one mature egg cell or ovum for every precursor cell that enters meiosis. This process differs in two unique ways from the equivalent procedure of spermatogenesis in males. First, meiotic divisions during oogenesis are asymmetric, meaning that a large oocyte (containing most of the cytoplasm) and minor polar body are produced as a result of meiosis I, and again following meiosis II. Since only oocytes will go on to form embryos if fertilized, this unequal...
64.4K