title: Abdominal adiposity by ultrasonography: a "pocket" database for reference standard in Italian people.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide a reference standard database of ultrasonographic parameters of abdominal adiposity in healthy people.
  
  
  METHODS
  Italian non-obese volunteers among blood donors were enrolled in 5 age bands (from 18 to 70 year-old) to reach the threshold of 25 males and 25 females per single band (total: 250). All subjects were measured for weight, height and waist circumference and underwent ultrasonography (US) by an expert radiologist for the assessment of several abdominal fat thicknesses (minimum and maximum subcutaneous fat thickness, maximum preperitoneal fat thickness, intrabdominal fat thickness, aorto-mesenteric thickness, and mesenteric fat thickness). In addition, US data were normalized per waist circumference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 30s to 50s no statistically significant differences were achieved between males and females for the adiposity markers of visceral fat, while a relevant divergence was proved from 60s to 70s. During ageing a marked increase of the visceral fat compartment was observed in males, while only the preperitoneal circumference was significantly modified in females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This paper reports on US parameters of abdominal adiposity of healthy Italian adults, to be used as a reference for daily clinical practice. Data could be also considered as control group for future investigations on physiology, pathological conditions, and differences between countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Specialized, Diagnostic, and Experimental Medicine, University of Bologna, Sant'Orsola - Malpighi Hospital, Via G. Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy; Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, "Rizzoli" Orthopaedic Institute, Via G. C. Pupilli 1, 40136 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bazzocchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Specialized, Diagnostic, and Experimental Medicine, University of Bologna, Sant'Orsola - Malpighi Hospital, Via G. Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ponti
authors.affiliation: Department of Specialized, Diagnostic, and Experimental Medicine, University of Bologna, Sant'Orsola - Malpighi Hospital, Via G. Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: dani84.dd@libero.it.
authors.forename: Danila
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Diano
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, "Rizzoli" Orthopaedic Institute, Via G. C. Pupilli 1, 40136 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moio
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, "Rizzoli" Orthopaedic Institute, Via G. C. Pupilli 1, 40136 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Albisinni
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bologna, Sant'Orsola - Malpighi Hospital, Via G. Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pasquali
authors.affiliation: Department of Specialized, Diagnostic, and Experimental Medicine, University of Bologna, Sant'Orsola - Malpighi Hospital, Via G. Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Battista
mesh_terms: D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D050154:Adiposity; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016208:Databases, Factual; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012015:Reference Standards; D012737:Sex Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body composition; Body fat distribution; Health; Reference standard; Ultrasonography