Correlations of visceral fat accumulation and atherosclerosis in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

We tested the hypothesis that increased abdominal visceral fat accumulation (VFA) is associated with insulin resistance and aortic stiffness in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus not receiving insulin treatment. The study consisted of 22 Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and high VFA (≥100 cm 2; age, 61 ± 7 years; high VFA group) and a control group of 18 age-matched patients with normal VFA (<100 cm 2; age, 60 ± 8 years; normal VFA group). Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (BaPWV) was measured by automatic oscillometric method. The BaPWV was used as an index of atherosclerosis. The body mass index values ( P < .05), waist circumferences ( P < .0005), and waist-to-hip ratios ( P < .05) were larger in the high VFA group than in the normal VFA group. The BaPWV was higher in the high VFA group than in the normal VFA group ( P < .0001). Fasting plasma glucose ( P < .05), insulin concentrations ( P < .0001), and the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index ( P < .001) were higher in the high VFA group than in the normal VFA group. Multiple regression analysis showed that the VFA level was independently predicted by BaPWV and the HOMA index. Our results indicate that the elevation of VFA in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus is characterized by increased aortic stiffness and insulin resistance and that BaPWV and the HOMA index are independent predictors of VFA.