Lower Visceral Adipose Tissue Research Articles

Feasibility of Using Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis for Assessing Youth Weight and Health Status: Preliminary Findings.

Background. This study assessed the accuracy of bioimpedance analysis (BIA) for measuring body composition and resting metabolic rate (RMR) in fasted and non-fasted state and the prospect of using phase angle (PA) to indicate cellular health in youth. Methods. BIA body composition, RMR, and hydration measures were compared to dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), MedGem metabolic analyzer, and urine specific gravity, respectively, at baseline in a fasted state using one-way ANOVAs. Repeated BIAs at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min post-prandial were compared to baseline using repeated-measures ANOVA. Correlations were used to assess the relationship among PA and health (blood lipids and glucose, resting BP) and fitness (grip strength and a 3 min step test) measures. Results. BIA scans (N = 58; 11.4 ± 2.9 y) measured lower body fat % (BF%) in healthy weight youth (BMI < 85th percentile; 16.4 ± 1.1 vs. 25.1 ± 1.0%) and lower visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in males (44.5 ± 2.9 vs. 34.1 ± 6.0 cm2) than DXA and higher RMR in all youth (1244 ± 41 vs. 1104 ± 39 kcals/day), healthy weight (1231 ± 48 vs. 1049 ± 44 kcals/day), and teens (1541 ± 62 vs. 1234 ± 72 kcals/day) than MedGem. Compared to baseline, immediate post-prandial values were significantly higher for BF% (21.4 ± 1.4 vs. 22.0 ± 1.4%) and VAT (45.4 ± 6.1 vs. 46.2 ± 6.2 cm2). PA was significantly correlated with BF% (r = −0.33; p = 0.01), fat-free mass (r = 0.59; p < 0.001), grip strength (r = 0.56; p < 0.001). Conclusions. While more data are needed to confirm these preliminary findings, the results suggest caution is necessary in using BIA to assess aspects of youth health and weight status, especially in males, healthy weight, and teens. However, these preliminary findings do indicate that phase angle maybe be a valuable, non-invasive tool for identifying youth who are heading towards obesity and/or obesity-related health consequences.

Ectopic fat deposition in populations of black African ancestry: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AimsIn populations of black African ancestry (BA), a paradox exists whereby lower visceral adipose tissue is found despite their high risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D). This systematic review investigates ethnic differences in other ectopic fat depots (intrahepatic lipid: IHL; intramyocellular lipid: IMCL and intrapancreatic lipid; IPL) to help contextualise their potential contribution to T2D risk.MethodsA systematic literature search was performed in December 2020 to identify studies reporting at least one ectopic fat comparison between BA and one/more other ethnicity. For IHL, a meta-analysis was carried out with studies considered comparable based on the method of measurement.ResultsTwenty-eight studies were included (IHL: n = 20; IMCL: n = 8; IPL: n = 4). Meta-analysis of 11 studies investigating IHL revealed that it was lower in BA populations vs pooled ethnic comparators (MD −1.35%, 95% CI −1.55 to −1.16, I2 = 85%, P < 0.00001), white European ancestry (MD −0.94%, 95% CI −1.17 to -0.70, I2 = 79%, P < 0.00001), Hispanic ancestry (MD −2.06%, 95% CI −2.49 to −1.63, I2 = 81%, P < 0.00001) and South Asian ancestry comparators (MD −1.92%, 95% CI −3.26 to −0.57, I2 = 78%, P = 0.005). However, heterogeneity was high in all analyses. Most studies found no significant differences in IMCL between BA and WE. Few studies investigated IPL, however, indicated that IPL is lower in BA compared to WE and HIS.ConclusionThe discordance between ectopic fat and greater risk for T2D in BA populations raises questions around its contribution to T2D pathophysiology in BA.

The role of FSH in body composition in hematopoietic cell transplant recipients.

Childhood cancer survivors who received a hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) are at increased risk for follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) abnormalities, which may have a significant negative impact on bone health and body composition. This study's purpose was to examine FSH and body composition in HCT recipients, non-HCT recipients and healthy controls. The study included HCT recipients (n=24), non-HCT recipients (n=309), and a control group of healthy siblings (n=211) all aged 9-18years. A fasting blood sample was collected to measure FSH. All participants underwent a dual X-ray absorptiometry scan to assess total and regional percent fat, lean mass (LM), fat mass (FM), bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) mass. FSH was significantly higher in HCT recipients compared to non-HCT recipients and healthy controls. HCT recipients had significantly lower total body weight, total LM, arm and leg LM, BMC and BMD compared to non-HCT recipients and healthy controls (p<.05). Non-HCT recipients had significantly higher total, trunk, android, gynoid, arm and leg FM compared to healthy controls. Also, healthy controls had significantly lower VAT mass compared to non-HCT recipients. This study's results show that HCT recipients have significant reductions in BMD, worse body composition, and abnormal FSH levels compared to non-HCT recipients and healthy controls.

Impact of the distribution of epicardial and visceral adipose tissue on left ventricular diastolic function

Although epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) can contribute to left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD), the impact of these distribution has not been fully understood. A total of 235 patients who underwent cardiac computed tomography angiography and Doppler echocardiography was included in this study. We evaluated the association of indexed EAT volume and VAT area with septal and lateral early diastolic mitral annular velocity (e'). The VAT area index was significantly associated with septal and lateral e' velocity after adjusted for conventional cardiovascular risk factors and obstructive coronary artery disease (β-estimate; - 0.015 and - 0.019, both p = 0.01). The natural logarithmic EAT volume index (ln EAT volume index) also showed a significant association with septal and lateral e' (β-estimate; - 1.72 and - 0.99, both p < 0.01). The significant association of ln EAT volume index with septal and lateral e' was observed even after adjusting for VAT area index (β-estimate; - 0.79 and - 1.52, both p < 0.03). In the subgroup analysis, there were significant association of ln EAT volume index with both septal and lateral e' in the lower VAT group (β-estimate; - 1.40 and - 1.53, both p < 0.03) and with lateral e' in the higher VAT group (β-estimate - 1.64, p = 0.006). In contrast, ln EAT volume index was not associated with septal e' in the higher VAT group (p = 0.98). EAT accumulation was significantly associated with LVDD independently of obstructive coronary artery disease and abdominal VAT. The impact of EAT on LVDD may vary depending on the amount of abdominal VAT.

Visceral Adiposity and Severe COVID-19 Disease: Application of an Artificial Intelligence Algorithm to Improve Clinical Risk Prediction.

BackgroundObesity has been linked to severe clinical outcomes among people who are hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We tested the hypothesis that visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is associated with severe outcomes in patients hospitalized with COVID-19, independent of body mass index (BMI).MethodsWe analyzed data from the Massachusetts General Hospital COVID-19 Data Registry, which included patients admitted with polymerase chain reaction–confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection from March 11 to May 4, 2020. We used a validated, fully automated artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm to quantify VAT from computed tomography (CT) scans during or before the hospital admission. VAT quantification took an average of 2 ± 0.5 seconds per patient. We dichotomized VAT as high and low at a threshold of ≥100 cm2 and used Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards regression to assess the relationship between VAT and death or intubation over 28 days, adjusting for age, sex, race, BMI, and diabetes status.ResultsA total of 378 participants had CT imaging. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that participants with high VAT had a greater risk of the outcome compared with those with low VAT (P < .005), especially in those with BMI <30 kg/m2 (P < .005). In multivariable models, the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) for high vs low VAT was unchanged (aHR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.24–3.09), whereas BMI was no longer significant (aHR for obese vs normal BMI, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.71–1.82).ConclusionsHigh VAT is associated with a greater risk of severe disease or death in COVID-19 and can offer more precise information to risk-stratify individuals beyond BMI. AI offers a promising approach to routinely ascertain VAT and improve clinical risk prediction in COVID-19.

Computerized Tomography‐Derived Abdominal Body Fat Indices in a Healthy Young Midwestern US Population

Objective We report body composition via Computerized Tomography (CT)-derived adipose metric values for a young healthy population in the Midwestern United States across age, sex, and Body Mass Index (BMI) including Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue (SAT), Visceral adipose tissue (VAT), Sketelal Muscle (SM), and waist circumference (WC). Background To improve upon current inaccurate clinical assessments of body composition, national guidelines have recommended expanding diagnostic CT reporting to include body composition metrics which are currently not part of standard reporting. SAT, VAT, SM, and WC are easily measured in an automated format, providing precise measurement and better identification of adipose tissue distribution over traditional methods. However, there exists a paucity of normal reference values for these metrics. Data collected from a young and healthy population has been requested to allow for disease state comparisons. Aside from importance in body composition, these adipose metrics are also clinically relevant to other disease states, especially VAT with cardiovascular health. Hypothesis Pre-existing diagnostic CT scans be re-analyzed to obtain clinically relevant population-based data on body composition. Methods Pre-existing abdominal non-contrast computerized tomography (CT) scans from a young Midwestern population (19-40 years) were analyzed using Aquarius iNtuition software with automated identification of waist circumference and adipose tissue and skeletal muscle cross-sectional areas and densities. Normal health status and lack of chronic medical conditions among participants and Body Mass Index (BMI) were confirmed by automated screening and manual medical record review prior to analysis. Any abnormal or acute findings on CT led to exclusion. Results From 193 (45 male, 148 female) CT scans, for males, VAT surface area (SA) was 186.0 cm2 (SD=95.4) with attenuation (ATT) -96.7 HU (SD=8.6) and SAT SA was 265.6 cm2 (SD=191.5) with ATT -102.4 HU (SD=7.8); for females, VAT SA was 116.2 cm2 (SD=63.6) with ATT -93.8 HU (SD=8.7) and SAT SA was 309.6 cm2 (SD=186.2) with ATT -103.9 HU (SD=6.4). SM SA for males was 193.3 cm2 (SD=30.6) with ATT 40.4 HU (SD=8.4). SM SA for females was 127.9 cm2 (SD=21.9) with ATT 38.0 HU (SD=6.6) (Table 1). Pearson's correlation revealed BMI was statistically significant to the 0.01 level for a positive correlation with VAT, SAT, and SM SAs and a negative correlation for VAT, SAT, and SM ATTs (Figure 1 - VAT and BMI). Percentiles for sex-specific adipose tissue indices in accordance with body mass index were generated. An Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed males have statistically significantly higher VAT SA than females (p<0.001). Additionally, males have lower VAT ATT than Women (p=0.048). Males also have significantly higher SM SA than females and higher SM ATT than Women (p=0.045). Conclusions Adipose tissue indices are newly generated for a young healthy Midwestern United States population. This study provides novel data as our population is young, devoid of chronic disease states, and from a population with minimal existing data. Such information has the ability to provide a baseline for comparison across disease states and body weights.

β-cell function in black South African women: exploratory associations with insulin clearance, visceral and ectopic fat.

The role of ectopic fat, insulin secretion and clearance in the preservation ofβ-cell function in black African women with obesity who typically present with hyperinsulinaemia is not clear. We aim to examine the associations between disposition index (DI, an estimate of β-cell function), insulin secretion and clearance and ectopic fat deposition. This is a cross-sectional study of 43 black South African women (age 20–35 years) with obesity (BMI 30–40 kg/m2) and without type 2 diabetes that measured the following: DI, insulin sensitivity (SI), acute insulin response (AIRg), insulin secretion rate (ISR), hepatic insulin extraction and peripheral insulin clearance (frequently sampled i.v. glucose tolerance test); pancreatic and hepatic fat, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and abdominal s.c. adipose tissue (aSAT) volume (MRI), intra-myocellular (IMCL) and extra-myocellular fat content (EMCL) (magnetic resonance spectroscopy). DI correlated positively with peripheral insulin clearance (β 55.80, P = 0.002). Higher DI was associated with lower VAT, pancreatic fat and soleus fat, but VAT explained most of the variance in DI (32%). Additionally, higher first phase ISR (P = 0.033) and lower hepatic insulin extraction (P = 0.022) were associated with lower VAT, independent from SI, rather than with ectopic fat. In conclusion, peripheral insulin clearance emerged as an important correlate of DI. However, VAT was the main determinant of a lower DI above ectopic fat depots. Importantly, VAT, but not ectopic fat, is associated with both lower insulin secretion and higher hepatic insulin extraction. Prevention of VAT accumulation in young black African women should, therefore, be an important target for beta cell preservation.

Evolutionary forces in diabetes and hypertension pathogenesis in Africans.

Rates of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and hypertension are increasing rapidly in urbanizing sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). While lifestyle factors drive the increases in T2D and hypertension prevalence, evidence across populations shows that genetic variation, which is driven by evolutionary forces including a natural selection that shaped the human genome, also plays a role. Here we report the evidence for the effect of selection in African genomes on mechanisms underlying T2D and hypertension, including energy metabolism, adipose tissue biology, insulin action and salt retention. Selection effects found for variants in genes PPARA and TCF7L2 may have enabled Africans to respond to nutritional challenges by altering carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Likewise, African-ancestry-specific characteristics of adipose tissue biology (low visceral adipose tissue [VAT], high intermuscular adipose tissue and a strong association between VAT and adiponectin) may have been selected for in response to nutritional and infectious disease challenges in the African environment. Evidence for selection effects on insulin action, including insulin resistance and secretion, has been found for several genes including MPHOSPH9, TMEM127, ZRANB3 and MC3R. These effects may have been historically adaptive in critical conditions, such as famine and inflammation. A strong correlation between hypertension susceptibility variants and latitude supports the hypothesis of selection for salt retention mechanisms in warm, humid climates. Nevertheless, adaptive genomics studies in African populations are scarce. More work is needed, particularly genomics studies covering the wide diversity of African populations in SSA and Africans in diaspora, as well as further functional assessment of established risk loci.

Hepatic Steatosis and Ectopic Fat Are Associated With Differences in Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue Gene Expression in People With HIV.

Persons with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH) have subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) dysfunction related to antiretroviral therapy and direct viral effects, which may contribute to a higher risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease compared with human immunodeficiency virus–negative individuals. We assessed relationships between SAT expression of major adipocyte regulatory and lipid storage genes with hepatic and other ectopic lipid deposits in PWH. We enrolled 97 PWH on long‐term antiretroviral therapy with suppressed plasma viremia and performed computed tomography measurements of liver attenuation, a measure of hepatic steatosis, skeletal muscle (SM) attenuation, and the volume of abdominal subcutaneous, visceral, and pericardial adipose tissue. Whole SAT gene expression was measured using the Nanostring platform, and relationships with computed tomography imaging and fasting lipids were assessed using multivariable linear regression and network mapping. The cohort had a mean age of 47 years, body mass index of 33.4 kg/m2, and CD4 count of 492 cells/mm3. Lower liver attenuation, a marker of greater steatosis, was associated with differences in SAT gene expression, including lower lipoprotein lipase and acyl‐CoA dehydrogenase, and higher phospholipid transfer protein. Lower liver attenuation clustered with lower visceral adipose tissue (VAT) attenuation and greater VAT volume, pericardial fat volume and triglycerides, but no relationship was observed between liver attenuation and SAT volume, SM attenuation, or low‐density lipoprotein. Conclusion: Liver attenuation was associated with altered SAT expression of genes regulating lipid metabolism and storage, suggesting that SAT dysfunction may contribute to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in PWH. SAT gene‐expression relationships were similar for VAT volume and attenuation, but not SM, indicating that ectopic lipid deposition may involve multiple pathways.

Impact of body composition on clinical outcomes in people with gastric cancer undergoing radical gastrectomy after neoadjuvant treatment

ObjectivesThe influence of body composition on clinical outcomes in individuals with gastric cancer (GC) undergoing radical gastrectomy after neoadjuvant treatment (NT) remains unclear. The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the association between body composition before NT or after NT and clinical outcomes in individuals with GC receiving multimodal treatments. MethodsThis retrospective study included individuals with GC who received NT followed by radical gastrectomy between January 2016 and December 2018. Skeletal muscle, visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) were measured by cross-sectional areas at the level of third lumbar vertebra based on single-slice computed tomography scan prior to NT and prior to the surgical operation. Sarcopenia, high VAT, and high SAT were defined using cutoff points of skeletal muscle index, visceral fat area, and subcutaneous fat area. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate risk factors of NT-related adverse events, postoperative complications and predictors of long-term survival. ResultsA total of 110 individuals with GC were enrolled in this study. Sarcopenia was present in 62.7% of them before NT and in 56.4% after NT. Sarcopenia before NT was associated with more NT-related adverse events (odds ratio, 2.901; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.205–6.983; P = 0.018). High VAT after NT (≥106 cm2) was associated with an increasing incidence of postoperative complications (odds ratio, 4.261; 95% CI, 1.332–13.632; P = 0.015). No body-composition parameter was relevant to tumor pathologic response to NT. As for long-term survival, poor overall survival was associated with both low VAT before NT (<120 cm2; hazard ratio [HR], 2.542; 95% CI, 1.111–5.817; P = 0.027) and low SAT after NT (<99.5 cm2; HR, 2.743; 95% CI, 1.248–6.027; P = 0.012). Similarly, shorter disease-free survival was associated with low VAT before NT (<120 cm2; HR, 2.502; 95% CI, 1.222–5.124; P = 0.012) and low VAT after NT (<106 cm2; HR, 2.505; 95% CI, 1.172–5.358; P = 0.018). ConclusionsBody composition measured by computed tomography could predict NT-related adverse events, postoperative complications, and long-term survival in multimodal treatments for GC. More meaningfully, adipose-tissue status has significant prognostic value for individuals with advanced GC.

Reduced Biliverdin Reductase-A Expression in Visceral Adipose Tissue is Associated with Adipocyte Dysfunction and NAFLD in Human Obesity

Biliverdin reductase A (BVR-A) is an enzyme involved in the regulation of insulin signalling. Knockout (KO) mice for hepatic BVR-A, on a high-fat diet, develop more severe glucose impairment and hepato-steatosis than the wild type, whereas loss of adipocyte BVR-A is associated with increased visceral adipose tissue (VAT) inflammation and adipocyte size. However, BVR-A expression in human VAT has not been investigated. We evaluated BVR-A mRNA expression levels by real-time PCR in the intra-operative omental biopsy of 38 obese subjects and investigated the association with metabolic impairment, VAT dysfunction, and biopsy-proven non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Individuals with lower VAT BVR-A mRNA levels had significantly greater VAT IL-8 and Caspase 3 expression than those with higher BVR-A. Lower VAT BVR-A mRNA levels were associated with an increased adipocytes’ size. An association between lower VAT BVR-A expression and higher plasma gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase was also observed. Reduced VAT BVR-A was associated with NAFLD with an odds ratio of 1.38 (95% confidence interval: 1.02–1.9; χ2 test) and with AUROC = 0.89 (p = 0.002, 95% CI = 0.76–1.0). In conclusion, reduced BVR-A expression in omental adipose tissue is associated with VAT dysfunction and NAFLD, suggesting a possible involvement of BVR-A in the regulation of VAT homeostasis in presence of obesity.

Impact of visceral adipose tissue on the accuracy of T-staging by CT in colon cancer

ObjectiveAccuracy of preoperative T-staging for colon cancer remains disappointing and may potentially influenced by patients’ individual characteristics including visceral adipose tissue (VAT). We sought to clarify the impact of VAT on the accuracy of T-staging by CT. MethodsThis study of 216 consecutive patients who underwent elective surgery was conducted in a single cancer center, to control other potentially confounding factors. Patients were divided into accurate- and mis-staging groups according to the comparison between preoperative CT-defined (cT) and postoperative pathologic T-stages (pT). Patients’ individual characteristics, including CT-based VAT at L2/L3 level, age, sex, body mass index (BMI), tumor location, present of bowel obstruction and pathologic subtype, were compared between the two groups. Association between VAT and mis-staging was assessed using multivariate logistic regression to adjust for confounders. ResultsOf the 216 patients, 84 (39%) were mis-staged by CT. The mean VAT in accurate-staging group was significantly higher than that in mis-staging group (146.8 ± 66.1 cm2 vs 98.1 ± 44.7 cm2, P < 0.001), with an optimal cutoff point of 122 cm2 for predicting mis-staging. After partial adjustment, a lower VAT (< 122 cm2, P < 0.001) and proximal location of tumor (P = 0.004) were independent factors associated with higher probability of mis-staging. Compared to VAT ≥ 122 cm2 as the reference, VAT < 122 cm2 exhibited an odds ratio of 2.701 (95% confidence intervals [CI], 1.618-3.907) for the probability of mis-staging. ConclusionA lower-VAT is associated with an increased probability of inaccurate clinical T-staging in colon cancer.

Association of Visceral Adipose Tissue and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in US-Born Mexican Americans but not First Generation Immigrants.

BackgroundExcess visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is a primary driver for the cardiometabolic complications of obesity; VAT‐associated cardiovascular disease risk varies by race, but most studies have been done on Non‐Hispanics. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and metabolic correlates of VAT, its association with subclinical atherosclerosis, and the factors affecting this association in Mexican Americans.Methods and ResultsParticipants (n=527) were drawn from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort (CCHC), on whom a carotid ultrasound to assess carotid intima media thickness and a dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry scan to assess for VAT were obtained. Those in the highest quartiles of VAT were more likely to have hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, low high‐density lipoprotein, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome. Increased carotid intima media thickness was more prevalent in those in the highest quartile for VAT (57.4% versus 15.4% for the lowest quartile; P<0.001). There was a graded increase in mean carotid intima media thickness with increasing VAT, after adjusting for covariates; for every 10 cm2 increase in VAT, there was an increase of 0.004 mm (SE=0.002; P=0.0299) in mean carotid intima media thickness. However, this association was only seen among second or higher generation US‐born Mexican Americans but not among first generation immigrants (P=0.024).ConclusionsExcess VAT is associated with indicators of metabolic disorders and subclinical atherosclerosis in Mexican Americans regardless of body mass index. However, acculturation appears to be an important modulator of this association. Longitudinal follow‐up with targeted interventions among second or higher generation Hispanics to lower VAT and improve cardiometabolic risk may help prevent premature cardiovascular disease in this cohort.

Daily Consumption of Coffee and Eating Bread at Breakfast Time Is Associated with Lower Visceral Adipose Tissue and with Lower Prevalence of Both Visceral Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in Japanese Populations: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: The study aimed to investigate the association between daily consumption of coffee or green tea, with and without habitual bread consumption for breakfast, and components and prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Japanese populations. Methods: The study population consisted of 3539 participants (1239 males and 2300 females). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using logistic regression analyses to evaluate the associations of daily coffee and green tea consumption with the prevalence of obesity, visceral obesity, and metabolic syndrome. Results: Coffee consumption was associated with significantly lower proportions of visceral obesity (OR: 0.746, CI: 0.588–0.947) and metabolic syndrome (OR: 0.706, CI: 0.565–0.882). On the other hand, green tea was not associated with visceral obesity (OR: 1.105, CI: 0.885–1.380) or metabolic syndrome (OR: 0.980, CI: 0.796–1.206). The combination of daily drinking coffee and eating bread at breakfast time was associated with significantly lower proportions of obesity (OR: 0.613, CI: 0.500–0.751) (p = 0.911 for interaction), visceral obesity (OR: 0.549, CI: 0.425–0.710) (p = 0.991 for interaction), and metabolic syndrome (OR: 0.586, CI: 0.464–0.741) (p = 0.792 for interaction). Conclusion: Coffee consumption was significantly associated with lower visceral adipose tissue and lower proportions of visceral obesity, but the same was not true for green tea consumption. Furthermore, in combination with coffee consumption, the addition of eating bread at breakfast time significantly lowered proportions of visceral obesity and metabolic syndrome, although there was no interaction between coffee and bread.

Clinical Outcomes of Subcutaneous and Visceral Adipose Tissue Characteristics Assessed in Patients Underwent Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

BackgroundAdipose tissue (AT) characteristics are considered to be a marker for predicting clinical outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) computed tomography (CT) assessment in patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). MethodsWe used the Japanese multicentre registry data of 1372 patients (age: 84.5 ± 5.0 years, women: 70.6%) who underwent TAVR. The SAT and VAT were assessed according to the preprocedural CT area and density. Baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared based on the differences in AT characteristics. The independent associations with all-cause mortality after TAVR were evaluated according to the CT area and density of AT. ResultsLow-volume area of SAT and VAT was associated with worse clinical outcomes compared with high-volume area of SAT and VAT in patients who underwent TAVR (log-rank test P = 0.016 and P = 0.014). High CT density of SAT and VAT was associated with increasing mortality in comparison with low CT density of SAT and VAT (log-rank test P < 0.001 and P = 0.007). The Cox regression multivariate analysis demonstrated the independent association of increased all-cause mortality in the high SAT and VAT density (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06-1.88, P = 0.019, and HR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.03-1.76, P = 0.031, respectively), but not in the low SAT and VAT area (HR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.74-1.29, P = 0.85, and HR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.60-1.03, P = 0.085, respectively). ConclusionsCT-derived AT characteristics, particularly the qualitative assessments, were useful for predicting the prognosis in patients after TAVR.

Adherence to a plant-based diet in relation to adipose tissue volumes and liver fat content

Better adherence to plant-based diets has been linked to lower risk of metabolic diseases but the effect on abdominal fat distribution and liver fat content is unclear. We aimed to examine the association between different plant-based diet indices and measures of abdominal fat distribution and liver fat content. In a population-based sample of 578 individuals from Northern Germany (57% male, median age 62 y), diet was assessed with a validated FFQ and an overall, a healthy, and an unhealthy plant-based diet index were derived. Participants underwent MRI to assess volumes of visceral and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue and liver signal intensity (LSI), a measure of liver fat content. Fatty liver disease (FLD) was defined as log LSI ≥3.0. Cross-sectional associations of the plant-based diet indices with visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat volumes, LSI, and FLD were assessed in linear and logistic regression analyses. The most comprehensive model adjusted for age, sex, education, smoking, alcohol, physical activity, energy intake, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and BMI. Higher overall and healthy plant-based diet indices both revealed statistically significant associations with lower visceral and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue volumes and with lower odds of FLD in multivariable-adjusted models without BMI. Upon additional adjustment for BMI, only the association of the healthy plant-based diet with visceral adipose tissue remained statistically significant (per 10-point higher healthy plant-based diet index, percentage change in visceral adipose tissue: -4.9%, 95% CI: -8.6%, -2.0%). None of the plant-based diet indices was associated with LSI. The unhealthy plant-based diet index was unrelated to any of the abdominal or liver fat parameters. Adherence to healthy plant-based diets was associated with lower visceral adipose tissue. None of the other examined associations remained statistically significant after adjustment for BMI.

Visceral adiposity and liver fat as mediators of the association between cardiorespiratory fitness and plasma glucose-insulin homeostasis

Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is positively associated with insulin sensitivity, whereas excessive levels of visceral adipose tissue (AT) and liver fat (LF) are both associated with insulin resistance and impaired plasma glucose-insulin homeostasis. To what extent levels of visceral AT and LF content contribute to the relationship between CRF and indices of plasma glucose-insulin homeostasis is uncertain. Our objective was to explore the interactions among CRF, visceral AT, and LF with glucose tolerance/insulin levels in asymptomatic and apparently healthy individuals. CRF was measured in 135 women and 177 men with a maximal treadmill graded exercise test. Indices of plasma glucose-insulin homeostasis were derived from a 3-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) performed in the morning after a 12-h fast. Visceral AT levels and LF content were measured using magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy. For any given CRF level, women presented significantly lower visceral AT and LF than men as well as lower homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and plasma glucose-insulin levels during the OGTT compared with men. In both sexes, there were significant negative correlations between CRF and HOMA-IR as well as glucose and insulin levels measured during the OGTT. Both glucose and insulin levels during the OGTT correlated positively with visceral AT and LF. In women and men, being in the top CRF tertile was associated with low levels of visceral AT and LF. Multivariable linear regression analyses suggested that visceral AT and LF were plausible mediators of the association between CRF and indices of plasma glucose-insulin homeostasis.

Effects of Empagliflozin Treatment on Glycerol-Derived Hepatic Gluconeogenesis in Adults with Obesity: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of empagliflozin on glycerol-derived hepatic gluconeogenesis in adults with obesity without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using oral carbon 13 (13 C)-labeled glycerol. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performedin participants with magnetic resonance imaging assessment of body fat and measurement of glycerol-derived 13 C enrichment in plasma glucose by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy following ingestion of [U-13 C3 ]glycerol. Participants were randomized to oral empagliflozin 10 mg once daily or placebo for 3 months. Glycerol-derived 13 C enrichment studies were repeated, and treatment differences in the mean percentage of 13 C glycerol enrichment in glucose were compared using mixed linear models. Thirty-five participants completed the study. Empagliflozin increased glycerol-derived 13 C enrichment between baseline and follow-up by 6.5% (P = 0.005), consistent with less glycerol from visceral adipose tissue (VAT). No difference was found with placebo. Glycerol-derived 13 C enrichment was lower in participants with high VAT compared with low VAT by 12.6% (P = 0.04), but there was no heterogeneity of the treatment effect by baseline VAT. Glycerol-derived 13 C enrichment was inversely correlated with VAT but was not correlated with weight loss. VAT is associated with endogenous glycerol-derived hepatic gluconeogenesis, and empagliflozin reduces endogenous glycerol gluconeogenesis in adults with obesity without T2DM. These findings suggest a mechanism by which sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors may prevent T2DM in obesity.

Low visceral adipose tissue regulatory T cells are associated with higher comorbidity severity in patients undergoing bariatric surgery.

Adipose tissue (AT) inflammation is linked to the development of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and atherosclerosis in murine models of obesity. Reduced AT regulatory T cells (Tregs), which are anti-inflammatory immune cells, play an important part in this pathogenesis, and we have shown that AT-Tregs are inversely correlated to increasing body-mass-index. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between AT-Treg abundance and comorbidity status in patients undergoing bariatric surgery (BS). Visceral (intra-abdominal) AT was harvested at that time of primary BS (n = 80) and collagenase digested. AT-Treg abundance (CD4+/CD25+/FOXP3+) was characterized using flow cytometry from the AT stromal vascular fraction. The median AT-Treg abundance (3.03%) was utilized to define high (High-Tregs, n = 39) and low AT-Treg (low-Tregs, n = 38) abundance within this cohort. These two groups were compared in terms of baseline demographic data, preoperative obesity-related comorbidities, glycemic parameters, including insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Age, excess body weight, and sex were not different between groups. Prevalence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or T2DM preoperatively were not different between groups. Compared to High-Tregs, patients with low-Tregs were more likely to have insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes (12.5% vs 2.9%, p = 0.04). Within patients with T2DM, low-Treg patients had higher plasma insulin levels compared to high-Tregs (31.8 (28.4-56.5) vs 15.5 (10.1-23.1), p = 0.04) and trended towards higher insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (9.0 (5.3-18.3) vs 3.5 (2.2-7.7), p = 0.08). Within those diagnosed with hyperlipidemia, preoperative statin use was higher in Low-Treg patients compared to the control cohort (91% vs 50%, p = 0.056). Low-Treg patients with hypertension were more likely to need 2 + anti-hypertensive agents preoperatively compared to their counterparts (71% vs 44%, p = 0.058). Within bariatric candidates, lower visceral AT-Treg abundance was associated with increased baseline medication requirements for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. This suggests that reduced AT-Tregs may be associated with higher obesity-related comorbidity severity.

312-OR: Gender-Specific Effects on Hepatic Fat Metabolism in Type 2 Diabetes before and after Remission

Men are more susceptible to type 2 diabetes and NAFLD than women, possibly secondary to differences in hepatic lipoprotein metabolism. The Tyneside cohort of Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (34M/30F, 52.3±8.0 years, BMI 35.1±4.5kg/m2) were studied at baseline and to 24 months after weight loss. 3-point Dixon MRI was used for intra-organ fat. Hepatic VLDL-TG production was measured using a competitive blocking method. In the nondiabetic group, both liver and pancreas fat differed markedly in men and women (5.4± 1.1 vs. 3.4±0.1%, p=0.005, and 7.6±0.5 vs. 4.7±0.4%, p=0.0006, respectively). In diabetes, both liver and pancreas fat were similar in men and women at baseline (15.4±1.9 vs. 16.9±1.9%, p=0.57; and 8.5±0.4 vs. 8.4±0.5%, p=0.66, respectively). They decreased similarly after weight loss in both men and women (liver fat: 2.6±0.6% and 3.6±0.7%; pancreas fat: 7.6 ±0.4% and 7.5±0.5%, p&amp;lt;0.0001 vs. baseline for both). VLDL-TG production was also similar at baseline (554±39 vs. 559±33mg/kg/day, p=0.96) and after weight loss (418±28 vs. 448±37mg/kg/day, p=0.29). Women had a lower VLDL-TG pool size (p=0.002), lower plasma VLDL-TG (p&amp;lt;0.0001), lower fasting glucagon (p&amp;lt;0.05), higher adiponectin (p&amp;lt;0.001), and lower visceral adipose tissue (p&amp;lt;0.0001) volumes than men regardless of diabetes status. However, diabetic women had higher: subcutaneous fat (p&amp;lt;0.0001), leptin (p&amp;lt;0.0001), fasting NEFA (p=0.004), GDF-15 (p=0.044), and FGF-21 (p=0.008). After 24 months of intervention, men and women remained significantly different in VLDL-TG pool, NEFA, SAT, VAT, leptin, and adiponectin (p&amp;lt;0.05 for all). Women are likely to process lipoproteins more rapidly and safely store VLDL-TG. This minimizes delivery of toxic lipid metabolites from VLDL-TG to pancreatic islets. These data demonstrate important gender differences in hepatic fat handling, and underscore the importance of considering this when designing metabolic studies. Disclosure A. Al-Mrabeh: None. S. Melhem: None. S.V. Zhyzhneuskaya: None. C. Peters: Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Sanofi-Aventis. A.C. Barnes: None. K.G. Hollingsworth: None. N. Sattar: Advisory Panel; Self; Amgen, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk A/S, Pfizer Inc., Sanofi. Research Support; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. M.E. Lean: None. R. Taylor: Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Novo Nordisk Foundation. Funding Diabetes UK