Visceral & subcutaneous abdominal fat in relation to insulin resistance & metabolic syndrome in non-diabetic south Indians.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to determine whether visceral or subcutaneous component of abdominal fat was associated with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome in non- diabetic Asian Indians.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study had on 120 individuals with normal glucose tolerance (49 males and 71 females). A single slice CT scan at L4- L5 was done for measurement of visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the South Asian Modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria (SAM-NCEP) criteria. Insulin Sensitivity Index (ISI-Matsuda) was used to assess insulin sensitivity/resistance.


RESULTS
Linear regression analysis revealed that visceral, but not subcutaneous fat was associated with serum triglycerides (R(2);=0.457,beta= 0.34; P=0.006), HDL cholesterol (R(2);=0.430, beta= -0.051; P=0.018) and ISI-Matsuda (R(2);=0.437, beta= -0.05; P=0.039) after adjusting for age, gender and BMI. Visceral fat showed significant association with metabolic syndrome (OR: 1.013, 95% CI: 1.001- 1.025; P=0.041) even after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index and glycated haemoglobin whereas subcutaneous fat did not show such an association.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that in non-diabetic Asian Indians, visceral, but not subcutaneous component of abdominal fat is associated with insulin resistance, cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome.
Dr Mohans' Diabetes Specialities Centre & Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, WHO Collaborating Centre for Non-communicable Diseases Prevention & Control, IDF Centre of Education, Chennai, India.
S
S
Sandeep
K
K
Gokulakrishnan
K
K
Velmurugan
M
M
Deepa
V
V
Mohan
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed