title: Visceral obesity is associated with microalbuminuria in nondiabetic Asians.
abstract: Microalbuminuria is an indicator of renal disease and is known to be related to obesity. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between the cross-sectional area of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and the prevalence of microalbuminuria. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 1154 subjects who underwent routine checkups, including computed tomography (CT) scans of abdominal adipose tissue. We used the lowest tertile as a reference of abdominal fat. The highest tertile of VAT was related to the highest prevalence of microalbuminuria (odds ratio (OR): 1.96; 95% CI: 1.12-3.43). Subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) was not associated with microalbuminuria. In men, the highest tertile for VAT was associated with the highest prevalence of microalbuminuria (OR: 2.74; 95% CI: 1.44-5.22). In women, VAT or SAT was not associated with microalbuminuria. In nondiabetic subjects, the highest tertile for VAT was associated with the highest prevalence of microalbuminuria (OR: 2.23; 95% CI: 1.15-4.32). Among subjects without metabolic syndrome or with body mass index <25 kg m(-2), the highest tertile for VAT was associated with microalbuminuria in age- and sex-adjusted model, respectively (OR: 1.62; 95% CI: 1.01-2.31; OR: 2.21; 95% CI: 1.05-4.65). The analysis of the association of VAT and insulin resistance (IR) indicated that a higher VAT was associated with a higher IR (highest tertile for VAT-OR: 2.91; 95% CI: 1.70-4.96). In conclusion, the highest VAT of the current study was significantly correlated with the highest prevalence of microalbuminuria, even in traditionally low-risk subjects without diabetes, and this association is potentially related with a higher IR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyunsuk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyo Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Nara
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Miyeon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Healthcare System Gangnam Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: HyoEun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Healthcare System Gangnam Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Minkyung
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Healthcare System Gangnam Center of Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyuktae
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Healthcare System Gangnam Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Su-Yeon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Healthcare System Gangnam Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Nam Ju
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Heo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D044466:Asian People; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000150:complications* / Q000652:urine