Implications of Abdominal Adipose Tissue Distribution on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Metabolic Syndrome: A Chinese General Population Study. Issue 2 (17th February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chiyanika, Chileka; Wong, Vincent Wai-Sun; Wong, Grace Lai-Hung; Chan, Henry Lik-Yuen; Hui, Steve C. N.; Yeung, David K. W.; Chu, Winnie C. W.
• Is Part Of: Clinical and translational gastroenterology. Volume 12:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: e00300
• Publication Date: 2021-02-17
• Subjects: Stomach -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Intestines -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Gastroenterology; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Liver Diseases; Intestines -- Diseases; Stomach -- Diseases; Periodical; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.33
• DOI: 10.14309/ctg.0000000000000300
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2155-384X

Abstract

Abstract : INTRODUCTION: Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) has been found to play a critical role in the development of metabolic syndrome and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) independent of generalized obesity. METHODS: In this secondary study of prospectively acquired data, 625 participants underwent magnetic resonance spectroscopy and chemical shift fat–water separation MRI (2-point Dixon) of the liver and whole abdomen, respectively, in a 3 Tesla magnet. Whole abdominal VAT and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) were extracted from the 2-point Dixon image series using an automated method. Clinical/anthropometric/blood biochemistry parameters were measured. Using region-specific body mass index, participants were classified into 3 paired subgroups (lean, overweight, and obese) and presence of NAFLD (liver fat content ≥ 5.5%). RESULTS: All relevant clinical/anthropometric/blood biochemistry characteristics and liver enzymes were statistically significant between groups ( P < 0.001). NAFLD was found in 12.1%, 43.8%, and 68.3% and metabolic syndrome in 51.1%, 61.9%, and 65% of the lean, overweight, and obese, respectively. Odds ratio for metabolic syndrome and NAFLD was increased by 2.73 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.18–3.40) and 2.53 (95% CI 2.04–3.12), respectively, for 1SD increase in VAT volume while prevalence of metabolic syndrome was increased by 2.26 (95% CI 1.83–2.79) for 1SD increase in liver fat content (%). VAT/SAT ratio in the lean with fatty liver showed the highest ratio (0.54) among all the subgroups, without a significant difference between the lean and obese with NAFLD ( P = 0.127). DISCUSSION: Increased VAT volume/disproportional distribution of VAT/SAT may be vital drivers to the development of metabolic syndrome and NAFLD irrespective of body mass index category.