title: The relationship between colonic diverticulosis and abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat accumulation measured by abdominal CT scan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Besides age, risk factors for colonic diverticular disease include dietary meat intake and Western lifestyles, which are also risk factors for obesity. However, the association between obesity and colonic diverticular disease, including diverticulosis and diverticulitis, is not well established. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between colonic diverticulosis and obesity using abdominal fat quantified by abdominal CT scan and lipid profiles, as well as body mass index (BMI).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study based on a retrospective case note review, we enrolled 133 subjects (control group (n=55), diverticulosis group (31), and diverticulitis group (47)). Abdominal fat areas (total abdominal fat, visceral fat, subcutaneous fat) were quantified by abdominal CT scan. Serum lipid profiles and BMI were checked. Statistical analysis was performed by independent t-tests, with significance set at p<0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the diverticulosis group, total abdominal fat area, visceral fat area, and abdominal subcutaneous fat area were all larger than those of the control and diverticulitis groups. In the diverticulitis group, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and BMI were lower than in the control and diverticulosis groups. There were no significant differences between the three groups in visceral-to-subcutaneous abdominal fat ratios and serum triglyceride levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, obesity may predispose one to occurrence of colonic diverticulosis. Abdominal fat measurement by CT scan may be a good method of assessing risk of colonic diverticular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Pyo
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yong Woo
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Oh Young
authors.initials: OY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kang Nyeong
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004239:Diverticulitis, Colonic / Q000097:blood; D043963:Diverticulosis, Colonic / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol