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Insulin resistance and body fat distribution
S Yamashita1, T Nakamura, I Shimomura
1Second Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Diabetes Care
|March 1, 1996
Summary
Visceral fat obesity (VFO) is linked to higher risks of cardiovascular disease and metabolic issues like insulin resistance compared to subcutaneous fat obesity (SFO). This visceral fat accumulation, even in non-obese individuals, contributes to conditions like hyperlipidemia and hypertension.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Metabolic Syndrome Research
Background:
- Body fat distribution significantly impacts metabolic and cardiovascular health.
- Computed tomography (CT) allows for quantitative assessment of visceral and subcutaneous fat depots.
- Visceral fat accumulation is increasingly recognized as a key contributor to metabolic dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To differentiate health risks associated with visceral fat obesity (VFO) versus subcutaneous fat obesity (SFO).
- To investigate the correlation between visceral fat accumulation and various metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors.
- To propose a comprehensive term for the cluster of conditions associated with visceral fat.
Main Methods:
- Utilized computed tomography (CT) to assess body fat distribution.
- Classified obese subjects into visceral fat obesity (VFO) or subcutaneous fat obesity (SFO) based on the umbilicus ratio.
- Analyzed serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, plasma glucose, and steady-state plasma glucose (SSPG) levels.
- Examined correlations between visceral/subcutaneous fat ratio (V/S ratio) and VFA with clinical parameters.
Main Results:
- Patients with VFO exhibited higher triglyceride, total cholesterol, and glucose levels compared to SFO patients.
- A significant positive correlation was observed between V/S ratio and glucose area, triglyceride, cholesterol, and blood pressure.
- Visceral fat accumulation, even in non-obese subjects, correlated with fasting glucose, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels.
- VFO was more frequently associated with coronary artery disease and multiple risk factors, including insulin resistance.
Conclusions:
- Visceral fat obesity (VFO) presents a greater health risk than subcutaneous fat obesity (SFO), characterized by metabolic dysfunction and increased cardiovascular risk.
- Visceral fat accumulation is a significant independent risk factor for developing insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and atherosclerosis.
- The proposed 'visceral fat syndrome' encapsulates a highly atherogenic state driven by visceral fat accumulation and associated metabolic disturbances.