Behavior of Visfatin in Nonobese Women Undergoing Liposuction: A Pilot Study

Abstract

The adipocyte has recently begun to be considered not just as a fat deposition tissue, but also as a true endocrine organ. Adipose tissue produces a wide variety of adipocytokines, of which visfatin is one. Since visfatin has recently been described as a mimic of insulin action, the authors evaluate visfatin behavior in women undergoing liposuction. Nineteen nonobese women underwent liposuction of abdominal fat. Patient visfatin levels and a lipid profile were obtained preoperatively, and the results were compared with the results of the same tests immediately postoperatively and one month postoperatively. The mean age of the 19 study participants was 33 years; mean body mass index was 24.7±2.2 kg/m2. The amount of subcutaneous fat obtained was an average of 4468±1403 kg. Visfatin increased from 51.8±24.4 ng/mL preoperatively to 76.3±39.8 ng/mL (P=.02). Pre- and postoperative lipid profiles reflected, respectively, the following: total cholesterol, 159.1±37.1 vs 164.6±31.7 mg/dL (P=.420); high-density cholesterol, 41.4±8.6 vs 39.3±9.9 mg/dL (P=.421); low-density cholesterol, 97.1±25.4 vs 100±19.2 mg/dL (P=.507); and triglycerides, 92.3±57.1 vs 126.3±72.5 mg/dL (P=.058). Visfatin levels were shown to increase after liposuction of subcutaneous fat. The authors conclude that this adipocyte may play an important role as a regulatory reciprocal mechanism.