The Relationship between Abdominal Adipose Tissue Depots and Obesity-Related Health Risk Factors in Korean Adults

Adipose tissue is divided into abdominal visceral tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) which is comprised of superficial layer of adipose tissue (SSAT) and deep subcutaneous adipose tissue (DSAT). These adipose tissue depots have significant metabolic differences including anatomical and morphological differences, with the apparent association of VAT with obesity-related health risks. Despite the association of adipose tissue in metabolic/cardiovascular disorders, studies on abdominal adipose tissue depots and obesity-related complications in Koreans are scarcity. With this purpose, we investigated the relationship between abdominal adipose tissue depots and blood lipids and metabolic risk factors in Korean men and women. A total of 60 healthy Korean participants were recruited (30 men and 30 women; mean age, 36 .9 ± 7.8 years; BMI, 27.9 ± 2.4 kg/m2). Height, weight, waist circumference, percent body fat, and body mass index (BMI) were assessed. Abdominal adipose tissue depots were assessed by computer tomography scan. Plasma was used to analyze total cholesterol, HDL-C, and glucose, and free fatty acid (FFA) and insulin levels were analyzed in serum. The data were analyzed by SPSS program. 2-tailed unpaired Student’s t-test was performed to determine group comparisons between men and women for the baseline characteristics. The relationships between the areas of abdominal adipose tissue depots and blood lipids and metabolic risk factors were analyzed using regression analysis. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. SSAT showed no associations with all variables of blood lipid profiles and metabolic risk factors. Although DSAT showed no significant associations in total cholesterol, lipoproteins, and fasting blood glucose level, it was highly associated with the levels of FFA and fasting insulin in blood and homeostasis model assessment index (HOMA-IR). In contrast, the areas of VAT and VAT + DSAT were more strongly associated with blood lipids profiles and metabolic risk factors. In conclusion, these data suggest that the pattern of abdominal fat accumulation between Korean men and women is different, and the distinct metabolic differences in specific adipose tissue depots are also found in Korean population.