Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: We designed this study to evaluate whether visceral fat area (VFA), and subcutaneous fat area (SFA) are associated with atherosclerotic parameters in obese and non-obese subjects.

Material and methods: Of 104 healthy volunteers were recruited for the study. Participitants were divided into two groups according to their body mass index (BMI). Group 1 has a BMI of <25 kg/m² (n=31) and the BMI of the group 2 was ≥25 kg/m² (n=73).

Results: The average age- and sex-specific distribution patterns of the groups were similar. While group 2 had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) (21.9%), impaired fasting glucose (IFG) (30.1%), hypertension (HT) (13.7%) and metabolic syndrome (MS) (30.1%), group 1 didn’t. There was a positive correlation between VFA and triglyceride (TG), waist circumference (WC) (r=0.443, P=0.013; r=0.649, P<0.001 respectively). In group 1, WC and TG had an statistically significant effect on the visceral fat alterations, respectively. In group 2, there was a correlation between VFA and age, fasting glucose, OGTT-1 h, OGTT-2 h, systolic BP, diastolic BP, TG, HOMA-IR, uric acid, WC and waist-to-hip ratio, (r=0.363, P=0.002; r=0.44, P<0.001; r=0.529, P<0.001; r=0.315, P=0.007; r=0.374, P<0.001; r=0.324 P=0.005; r=0.316 P=0.006; r=0.55 P<0.001; r=0.431, P<0.001; r=0.791, P<0.001; r=0.439, P<0.001 respectively). In group 2, WC, OGTT-1 h, uric acid and age had an statistically significant effect on visceral fat alterations. There was also a negative correlation with HDL-C in both group 1 and group 2. While there was no correlation between SFA and any of the parameters in group 1, in group 2 there was an statistically significant effect of WC on SFA alterations. VFA and SFA had an statistically significant concurrence with IFG, IGT, HT and MS.

Conclusion: We consider that the insulin resistance which is the result of increase in visceral fat tissue compatible with BMI is responsible for dysglisemia and hyperuricemia.