Aortomesenteric Fat Thickness with Ultrasound Predicts Metabolic Diseases in Obese Patients

BACKGROUND:

The relation between visceral fat
accumulation and development of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders
has been demonstrated. The aim of this study was to determine the
relationship between a new ultrasound visceral fat thickness (VFT)
measurement and clinical and anthropometric data in a consecutive series
of obese patients.

METHODS:

Fifty-five consecutive male
obese patients underwent ultrasound evaluation and metabolic and
anthropometric parameters determination at baseline and after 3 weeks of
a very low-calorie diet (VLCD) therapy. The new ultrasound measurement,
the thickness of the fat between the aorta and the superior mesenteric
artery (AMFT), was determined along with the maximum thickness of
preperitoneal fat and the global VFT.

RESULTS:

AMFT
showed a better correlation than VFT and preperitoneal fat with all
anthropometric and metabolic parameters, both at baseline and after VLCD
regimen. At baseline, patients in the middle and high AMFT and VFT
tertiles had a significantly higher prevalence of metabolic diseases
with respect to AMFT and VFT low tertile patients, whereas after VLCD
period, AMFT only showed significant difference within tertiles. The
odds ratios for the various metabolic diseases were higher in the middle
and high AMFT tertiles than those in the middle and high VFT tertiles,
remaining significant after adjustment for age, body mass index and VLCD
regimen only in the middle and high AMFT tertiles.

CONCLUSIONS:

The
ultrasonographic AMFT evaluation is strongly correlated to the presence
of metabolic syndrome and could be a valuable tool to predict metabolic
diseases and associated cardiovascular risks in men.