title: Visceral Adiposity Index: a reliable indicator of visceral fat function associated with cardiometabolic risk.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To individuate a novel sex-specific index, based on waist circumference, BMI, triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol, indirectly expressing visceral fat function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Visceral adiposity index (VAI) was first modeled on 315 nonobese healthy subjects. Using two multiple logistic regression models, VAI was retrospectively validated in 1,498 primary care patients in comparison to classical cardio- and cerebrovascular risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All components of metabolic syndrome increased significantly across VAI quintiles. VAI was independently associated with both cardiovascular (odd ratio [OR] 2.45; 95% CI 1.52-3.95; P < 0.001) and cerebrovascular (1.63; 1.06-2.50; P = 0.025) events. VAI also showed significant inverse correlation with insulin sensitivity during euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp in a subgroup of patients (R(s) = -0.721; P < 0.001). By contrast, no correlations were found for waist circumference and BMI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests VAI is a valuable indicator of "visceral adipose function" and insulin sensitivity, and its increase is strongly associated with cardiometabolic risk.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Oncologia Sperimentale ed Applicazioni Cliniche, Section of Endocrinology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. agalluz@unipa.it
authors.forename: Marco C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Amato
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galia
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Criscimanna
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vitabile
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Midiri
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galluzzo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides