title: Liver fat accumulation in response to overfeeding with a high-fat diet: a comparison between South Asian and Caucasian men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  South Asians were reported to have a higher liver fat content as compared to BMI-matched Caucasians. This study compared the increase in liver fat content in response to overfeeding with a high fat diet in South Asian and Caucasian men when matched for body fat percentage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten South Asian men (BMI 18-29 kg/m(2)) and 10 Caucasian men (BMI 22-33 kg/m(2)), aged 20-40 y, matched for body fat percentage, were included. A weight maintenance diet was given for 3 days based on the individual energy requirement. Individual energy requirement of the subjects was calculated based on their body composition (measured by hydro densitometry and deuterium dilution) and activity counts (accelerometer). Liver fat content was measured before and after 4 days of overfeeding (50 % excess energy need) with a high fat diet (60 % energy from fat). Fat distribution was measured by anthropometry and an MRI scan of the abdomen while liver fat content using 1H-MRS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While having a similar body fat % (P = 0.58), South Asians had a lower BMI (P = 0.04) than Caucasians. Liver fat content at baseline did not differ between ethnicities (P = 0.48) and was associated with visceral fat area (P = 0.002, R(2) = 0.56) but not with ethnicity (P = 0.13). Overfeeding with a high fat diet significantly increased liver fat (P = 0.01) but the increase did not differ between ethnicities (P = 0.47). There was no difference in the total abdominal fat area (P = 0.37), subcutaneous abdominal fat area (P = 0.18) and visceral fat area (VAT, P = 0.32). However as a percentage of the total abdominal fat area, VAT was higher in South Asians (P = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite a relatively higher percentage of visceral fat area, liver fat increased similarly in South Asian and Caucasian men in response to overfeeding with a high fat diet.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The study was registered in the public trial registry www.ccmo.nl No. NL31217.068.10.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, Nutrition and Toxicology Research Institute (NUTRIM) - School for Nutrition Toxicology and Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), Universiteitssingel 50, PO.Box 616, 6200MD Maastricht, The Netherlands ; Laboratory of Food Quality and Nutrition, Department of Food and Agricultural Product Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Brawijaya University, Malang, East Java Indonesia.
authors.forename: Siti N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Wulan
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, Nutrition and Toxicology Research Institute (NUTRIM) - School for Nutrition Toxicology and Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), Universiteitssingel 50, PO.Box 616, 6200MD Maastricht, The Netherlands ; Department of Radiology, Maastricht Academic Hospital, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Vera B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Schrauwen-Hinderling
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, Nutrition and Toxicology Research Institute (NUTRIM) - School for Nutrition Toxicology and Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), Universiteitssingel 50, PO.Box 616, 6200MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Klaas R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Westerterp
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, Nutrition and Toxicology Research Institute (NUTRIM) - School for Nutrition Toxicology and Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), Universiteitssingel 50, PO.Box 616, 6200MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Plasqui
keywords: Body fat distribution; Liver fat content; Overfeeding; South Asian men