Subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue is associated with the metabolic syndrome in Asian Indians independent of intra-abdominal and total body fat.
OBJECTIVE
Subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (SCAT) compared with intra-abdominal adipose tissue (IAAT) would be more significantly associated with the metabolic syndrome in Asian Indians.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Tertiary care medical institution.


METHODS
100 healthy adults without known heart disease or diabetes.


METHODS
Magnetic resonance imaging to measure cross-sectional areas of abdominal adipose tissue compartments at the L3-L4 intervertebral level. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry to measure fat percentage (BF%) and lean mass of total body, trunk, legs and arms.


RESULTS
Subjects with the metabolic syndrome (n=35) had a significantly higher BF%, SCAT and IAAT than those without it. Both SCAT and IAAT showed a significant correlation with blood pressure and triglycerides. One SD increase in IAAT (odds ratio (OR) 3.43; 95% CI 1.78 to 6.63) or SCAT area (OR 6.35; 95% CI 2.75 to 14.7) was significantly associated with the metabolic syndrome. On comparing them in the same model, SCAT was the only significant factor associated with the metabolic syndrome (OR 4.92; 95% CI, 1.95 to 12.38). In receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, significant areas under the curves (AUC) were noted for IAAT (0.77) and SCAT (0.89). On comparing the equality of AUC by C statistics, SCAT was a more significant predictor of the metabolic syndrome than IAAT (p=0.009). Only SCAT was significantly associated with the metabolic syndrome after adjusting for BF%, lean body mass or trunk lean mass.


CONCLUSIONS
SCAT is a more important predictor of the metabolic syndrome in Asian Indians than IAAT. The significance of SCAT in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and diabetes needs to be investigated further in Asian Indians.
Goel
Kashish
K
Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Misra
Anoop
A
Vikram
Naval Kishore
NK
Poddar
Pawan
P
Gupta
Nidhi
N
D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D050507:Subcutaneous Fat, Abdominal / Q000473:pathology*