Visceral adipose tissue, adiponectin levels and insulin resistance are related to atherosclerosis as assessed by whole-body magnetic resonance angiography in an elderly population
Received 15 June 2008; received in revised form 17 October 2008; accepted 11 November 2008. published online 05 January 2009.
Abstract
Objective
The principal aim of this study was to determine whether the amount of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is more related than subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) to atherosclerosis assessed by whole-body MRA (WBMRA). A further objective was to investigate whether traditional risk factors, inflammation, or adipokines could explain the hypothesized relationship between VAT and atherosclerosis.
Methods
Men and women aged 70 were recruited from the general population into the Prospective Investigation of The Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS) and 306 of them underwent WBMRA in a clinical 1.5-T scanner. The arterial tree was assessed for degree of stenosis or occlusion and a total atherosclerotic score (TAS) was established. Information on risk factors and BMI and on SAT and VAT, segmented on an axial MR scan was collected. Adiponectin, leptin, and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were measured in serum. HOMA index was used as a marker of insulin resistance.
Results
VAT was related to TAS independently of gender, total obesity (BMI), amount of SAT, hsCRP and also to the traditional risk factors included in the Framingham risk score (FRS) in an elderly population. Adiponectin or the HOMA insulin resistance, but not leptin or VAT, together with FRS was significantly related to TAS in a multiple censored regression model.
Conclusion
Adiponectin attenuated the relationship between VAT and TAS, suggesting that adiponectin and insulin resistance is an important link between visceral adiposity and atherosclerosis.
ABSTRACT