Abstract
BackgroundMost studies on the relationships between metabolic disorders (hypertension, dyslipidemia, and impaired glucose tolerance) and hepatic steatosis (HS) or visceral fat accumulation (VFA) have been cross-sectional, and thus, these relationships remain unclear. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to clarify the relationships between components of metabolic disorders and HS/VFA.MethodsThe participants were 615 middle-aged men who were free from serious liver disorders, diabetes, and HS/VFA and underwent multiple general health check-ups at our institution between 2009 and 2013. The data from the initial and final check-ups were used. HS and VFA were assessed by computed tomography. HS was defined as a liver to spleen attenuation ratio of ≤1.0. VFA was defined as a visceral fat cross-sectional area of ≥100 cm2 at the level of the navel. Metabolic disorders were defined using Japan’s metabolic syndrome diagnostic criteria. The participants were divided into four groups based on the presence (+) or absence (-) of HS/VFA. The onset rates of each metabolic disorder were compared among the four groups.ResultsAmong the participants, 521, 55, 24, and 15 were classified as HS(-)/VFA(-), HS(-)/VFA(+), HS(+)/VFA(-), and HS(+)/VFA(+), respectively, at the end of the study. Impaired glucose tolerance was more common among the participants that exhibited HS or VFA (p = 0.05). On the other hand, dyslipidemia was more common among the participants that displayed VFA (p = 0.01).ConclusionsIt is likely that VFA is associated with impaired glucose tolerance and dyslipidemia, while HS might be associated with impaired glucose tolerance. Unfortunately, our study failed to detect associations between HS/VFA and metabolic disorders due to the low number of subjects that exhibited fat accumulation. Although our observational study had major limitations, we consider that it obtained some interesting results. HS and VFA might affect different metabolic disorders. Further large-scale longitudinal studies are needed to reveal the relationships between the components of metabolic disorders and HS/VFA.
Highlights
In recent years, obesity, elevated blood pressure, impaired glucose tolerance, and abnormal lipid metabolism, all of which are risk factors for arteriosclerosis-associated cardiovascular disease, have been grouped together into a disorder called “metabolic syndrome” [1,2]
It is likely that visceral fat accumulation (VFA) is associated with impaired glucose tolerance and dyslipidemia, while hepatic steatosis (HS) might be associated with impaired glucose tolerance
Our observational study had major limitations, we consider that it obtained some interesting results
Summary
Obesity, elevated blood pressure, impaired glucose tolerance, and abnormal lipid metabolism, all of which are risk factors for arteriosclerosis-associated cardiovascular disease, have been grouped together into a disorder called “metabolic syndrome” [1,2]. The accumulation of abdominal fat, is considered to be the pathological basis of all of the other metabolic disorders. Abdominal fat accumulation is linked to insulin resistance, and insulin resistance and elevated insulin levels are known to cause hyperglycemia, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, which can lead to the development of arteriosclerosis-related coronary artery disease [1,2,3,4]. Most studies on the relationships between metabolic disorders (hypertension, dyslipidemia, and impaired glucose tolerance) and hepatic steatosis (HS) or visceral fat accumulation (VFA) have been cross-sectional, and these relationships remain unclear. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to clarify the relationships between components of metabolic disorders and HS/VFA.
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