88The Role of Visceral Adiposity in the Metabolic Phenotype of multi-ethnic South-East Asian population. (2nd September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mina, Theresia; ES, Lee; Lee, Jimmy; Loh, Marie; Ngeow, Joanne; Elliott, Paul; Riboli, Elio; Chambers, John
• Is Part Of: International journal of epidemiology. Volume 50(2021)Supplement 1
• Publication Date: 2021-09-02
• Subjects: Epidemiology -- Periodicals; 614.4
• DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyab168.444
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-5771

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Ethnic Asians are known to exhibit worse metabolic phenotypes as compared to Caucasians despite lower body mass index 1, 2 . Ethnic South-Asians and Malays were also found to display greater insulin resistance than Chinese 3 . One potential biological mechanism for this phenomenon is the inter-ethnic differences in the visceral adiposity deposition 4 . Here we hypothesised that visceral adiposity contributes to ethnic differences in metabolic phenotype more than subcutaneous adiposity. Methods: We quantified total, subcutaneous and visceral adipose deposition (BMI, waist circumferences, Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry [DEXA]) and metabolic phenotypes (blood pressure, fasting glucose and lipid profile, HbA1c) in 3403 participants. Analyses were adjusted for age, and sex. Results: Participants were 40.6% male, mean age 49.7±11.4 years, Chinese: Malays: South-Asians in 72:9:19 ratio. Ethnic Malays and South-Asians had raised blood pressure, fasting glucose, triglycerides, HbA1c, reduced HDL, and higher total and visceral fat than Chinese (P < 0.001), independent of covariates. Increased adiposity was strongly associated with poorer metabolic phenotype (all P < 0.0001), with strongest associations found amongst visceral Fat Mass Index (□□95%CI]=0.48[0.20;0.23]) and android/gynoid ratio (□[95%CI]=0.55[1.31;1.63]) with triglycerides levels. Visceral adiposity contributed 17-40% (all P < 0.0001) to the variance in the associations of ethnic Malays and South-Asians with metabolic phenotypes, 3-7% higher than subcutaneous adiposity. Conclusions: Visceral adiposity contributes to poorer metabolic phenotype in ethnic Malays and South Asians as compared to Chinese. Key messages: Visceral adiposity expansion is an important determinant of metabolic health in Asian populations.