title: Aortomesenteric fat thickness with ultrasound predicts metabolic diseases in obese patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The relation between visceral fat accumulation and development of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders has been demonstrated. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between a new ultrasound visceral fat thickness (VFT) measurement and clinical and anthropometric data in a consecutive series of obese patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-five consecutive male obese patients underwent ultrasound evaluation and metabolic and anthropometric parameters determination at baseline and after 3 weeks of a very low-calorie diet (VLCD) therapy. The new ultrasound measurement, the thickness of the fat between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery (AMFT), was determined along with the maximum thickness of preperitoneal fat and the global VFT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AMFT showed a better correlation than VFT and preperitoneal fat with all anthropometric and metabolic parameters, both at baseline and after VLCD regimen. At baseline, patients in the middle and high AMFT and VFT tertiles had a significantly higher prevalence of metabolic diseases with respect to AMFT and VFT low tertile patients, whereas after VLCD period, AMFT only showed significant difference within tertiles. The odds ratios for the various metabolic diseases were higher in the middle and high AMFT tertiles than those in the middle and high VFT tertiles, remaining significant after adjustment for age, body mass index and VLCD regimen only in the middle and high AMFT tertiles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ultrasonographic AMFT evaluation is strongly correlated to the presence of metabolic syndrome and could be a valuable tool to predict metabolic diseases and associated cardiovascular risks in men.
authors.affiliation: Ultrasonography and Clinical Nutrition Units (LM, LC, GC), AORN G.Moscati, Avellino, Italy; Department of Cardiovascular Surgery (MM), Istituto Clinico Pineta Grande, Castelvolturno (CE), Italy; and Department of Cardiac Surgery (LDT, PS), University "Federico II," Medical School, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Monaco
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monaco
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Tommaso
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stassano
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Castaldo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Castaldo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D017538:Mesenteric Artery, Superior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000178:diet therapy; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography