title: Does Visceral Fat Estimated by Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry Independently Predict Cardiometabolic Risks in Adults?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Abdominal visceral fat, typically measured by computer tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), has been shown to correlate with cardiometabolic risks. The purpose of this study was to examine whether a newly developed and validated visceral fat measurement from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) provides added predictive value to the cross-sectional differences of cardiometabolic parameters beyond the traditional anthropometric and DXA adiposity parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  A heterogeneous cohort of 194 adults (81 males and 113 females) with a BMI of 19 to 54 kg/m(2) participated in this cross-sectional study. Body composition was measured with a DXA densitometer. Visceral fat was then computed with a proprietary algorithm. Insulin sensitivity index (SI, measured by intravenous glucose tolerance test), blood pressures, and lipid profiles, and peak oxygen uptake were also measured as cardiometabolic risk parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DXA-estimated visceral fat mass was associated with HDL cholesterol (regression coefficient [β] = -5.15, P < .01, adjusted R(2) = .21), triglyceride (β = 26.01, P < .01, adjusted R(2) = .14), and peak oxygen uptake (β = -3.15, P < .01, adjusted R(2) = .57) after adjusting for age, gender, and ethnicity. A subanalysis stratifying gender-specific BMI tertiles showed visceral fat, together with ethnicity, was independently associated with SI in overweight men and moderately obese women (second tertile).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Without requiring additional CT or MRI-based measurements, visceral fat detected by DXA might offer certain advantages over the traditional DXA adiposity parameters as means of assessing cardiometabolic risks.
authors: Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors: Hiroyuki
authors: H
authors: Sasai
authors: Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors: Robert J
authors: RJ
authors: Brychta
authors: Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors: Rachel P
authors: RP
authors: Wood
authors: Computational Biology and Biostatistics Laboratory, GE Global Research Center, Niskayuna, NY, USA.
authors: Megan P
authors: MP
authors: Rothney
authors: Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors: Xiongce
authors: X
authors: Zhao
authors: Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors: Monica C
authors: MC
authors: Skarulis
authors: Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA chenkong@niddk.nih.gov.
authors: Kong Y
authors: KY
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D050154:Adiposity; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: cardiometabolic risks; dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; insulin sensitivity; visceral fat