title: Computed tomography-measured adipose tissue attenuation and area both predict adipocyte size and cardiometabolic risk in women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the ability of CT-derived measurements including adipose tissue attenuation and area to predict fat cell hypertrophy and related cardiometabolic risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  Abdominal adipose tissue areas and radiologic attenuation were assessed using 4 CT images in 241 women (age: 47 years, BMI: 26.5 kg/m(2)). Fat cell weight was measured in paired VAT and SAT samples. Fasting plasma lipids, glucose and insulin levels were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adipose tissue attenuation was negatively correlated with SAT (r=-0.46) and VAT (r=-0.67) fat cell weight in the corresponding depot (p<0.0001 for both). Women with visceral adipocyte hypertrophy had higher total-, VLDL-, LDL- and HDL-triglyceride and apoB levels as well as a higher cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio, fasting glucose and insulin levels compared to women with smaller visceral adipocytes. Adjustment for VAT area minimized these differences while subsequent adjustment for attenuation eliminated all differences, with the exception of fasting glycaemia. In SAT, adjustment for VAT area and attenuation eliminated all adipocyte hypertrophy-related alterations except for fasting hyperglycaemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT-derived adipose tissue attenuation and area both contribute to explain variation in the cardiometabolic risk profile associated with the same biological parameter: visceral fat cell hypertrophy.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and nephrology, CHU de Québec, Québec, Canada; School of Nutrition, Laval University, Québec, Canada; Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Julie Anne
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Côté
authors.affiliation: Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec, Canada; Centre Européen pour la Nutrition et la Santé, Car Men laboratory, Center Hospitalier Lyon-Sud CRNH, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Julie-Anne
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Nazare
authors.affiliation: Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec , Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Mélanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nadeau
authors.affiliation: Gynecology Unit, CHU de Québec , Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leboeuf
authors.affiliation: Gynecology Unit, CHU de Québec , Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Line
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blackburn
authors.affiliation: Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec , Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Després
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and nephrology, CHU de Québec, Québec, Canada; School of Nutrition, Laval University, Québec, Canada; Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tchernof
keywords: adipose tissue radiologic attenuation; computed tomography; omental adipocytes; visceral fat; women