Journal List > Korean J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr > v.13(2) > 1043469

Lee, Kim, Oh, Park, and Myong: Clinical Significance of Abdominal Fat Distribution in Korean Male Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Purpose

Visceral adipose tissue may be strongly linked to increased metabolic risks in adults. However, because little is known regarding the effect of visceral adipose tissue in children and adolescents, we performed this study to determine the association between abdominal fat distribution and metabolic risk factors in this population.

Methods

One hundred one children and adolescents (78 males and 23 females; mean age, 10.8±2.4 years) were enrolled. The anthropometric data and metabolic risk factors were evaluated. Theabdominal fat distribution was assessed according to the CT measurement. Age-adjusted, partial correlations were performed among the visceral adipose fat area (VFA), subcutaneous adiposefat area (SFA), metabolic risk factors, and anthropometrics.

Results

The SFA increased more rapidly than the VFA with advancing years in both genders. In males, the VFA and SFA were positively correlated with anthropometrics. The VFA was correlated with low HDL-cholesterol and the SFA was correlated with diastolic blood pressure (DBP). However, there was no statistical significance between the VFA, SFA, anthropometrics, and other metabolic risk factors. The VFA and SFA were strongly linked to a number of metabolic risk factors, such as other anthropometrics.

Conclusion

This study investigated how a low HDL-C was correlated with VFA and how a high DBP was associated with SFA in Korean male children and adolescents. Our results suggest that the correlation between the VFA, SFA, and metabolic risk factors was relatively weak compared to that reported in previous adult studies.

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1
Scatter plots showed the visceral fat area (VFA) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA) according to age and gender (left, male right, female). The SFA increased more rapidly compared to the VFA with advancing years in both genders.
kjpgn-13-172-g001
Fig. 2
Scatter plots showed a negative linear association between the visceral fat area (VFA) and HDL-cholesterol. Age-adjusted multivariate regression model identified R2 as 0.322 and p-value as <0.001 between logVFA and HDL-cholesterol.
kjpgn-13-172-g002
Table 1
Clinical Characteristics, Plasma Biochemistry and Radiologic Assessment of the VFA and SFA Volume of the Participants
kjpgn-13-172-i001

Data are presented as mean±SD or *Median (25th, 75th percentiles) when appropriate, p<0.05, HOMA-IR=fasting insulin (uIU/mL)×fasting glucose (mg/dL)/405, VFA: visceral adipose fat area, SFA: subcutaneous adipose fat area.

Table 2
Partial Correlations Adjusted for Age between the VFA, SFA and Anthropometrics
kjpgn-13-172-i002

*p< 0.05, p< 0.01, p< 0.001, WC: waist circumference.

Table 3
Partial Correlations Adjusted for Age between Radiologic Assessment of the VFA, SFA, Anthropometric Data and Metabolic Risk Factors in 66 Males*
kjpgn-13-172-i003

*Twelve patients were excluded lack of WC and blood pressure data, p<0.05, p<0.01, §p<0.001, Metabolic risk factors include BMI above the 97th percentile (z-score,2.0 or more), a triglyceride level above the 95th percentile, an HDL cholesterol level below the 5th percentile, systolic or diastolic blood pressure above the 95th percentile, and impaired glucose tolerance, WC: waist circumference, SBP: systolic blood pressure, DBP: diastolic blood pressure, TG: triglyceride, HDL-C: high density lipoprotein cholesterol.

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