Perirenal fat thickness and liver fat fraction are independent predictors of MetS in adults with overweight and obesity suspected with NAFLD: a retrospective study

Li Wang; Yuning Pan; Xianwang Ye; Yongmeng Zhu; Yandong Lian; Hui Zhang; Miao Xu; Mengxiao Liu; Xinzhong Ruan

doi:10.1186/s13098-023-01033-w

Perirenal fat thickness and liver fat fraction are independent predictors of MetS in adults with overweight and obesity suspected with NAFLD: a retrospective study

Diabetol Metab Syndr. 2023 Mar 23;15(1):56. doi: 10.1186/s13098-023-01033-w.

Authors

Li Wang¹, Yuning Pan¹, Xianwang Ye¹, Yongmeng Zhu¹, Yandong Lian¹, Hui Zhang¹, Miao Xu², Mengxiao Liu³, Xinzhong Ruan⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiology, Ningbo First Hospital, No. 59, Liuting Street, Haishu District, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315010, China.
² Department of Endocrinology, Ningbo First Hospital, No. 59, Liuting Street, Haishu District, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315010, China.
³ MR Collaborations, Siemens healthineers, No.278, Zhouzhu Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai, 200090, China.
⁴ Department of Radiology, Ningbo First Hospital, No. 59, Liuting Street, Haishu District, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315010, China. xinzhong_ruan@163.com.

Abstract

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has a multidirectional relationship with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and used to be considered a hepatic manifestation of MetS. Perirenal fat, as a part of visceral adipose tissue (VAT), was reported to be correlated with MetS components, but data for intraorgan fat are lacking. This study was undertaken to assess the value of peripheral and intraorgan fat to predict MetS in adults with overweight and obesity with suspected NAFLD.

Methods: We studied 134 sequential adults (mean age, 31.5 years; 47% female) with overweight and obesity with suspected NAFLD. All participants underwent abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination. Anthropometric and metabolic parameters and perirenal fat thickness (PRFT), subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness (SATT), liver fat fraction (LFF), pancreas fat fraction (PFF), and lumbar spine fat fraction (LSFF) were collected. MetS was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. Statistical analyses included basic statistics, linear correlation and logistic regression analysis.

Results: A total of 63 adults with MetS and 71 adults with advanced liver steatosis (grades 2 and 3) were included in our study. Patients with MetS had greater PRFT (p = 0.026) and LFF (p < 0.001), as well as greater homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and decreased SATT. MetS patients had a higher proportion of advanced steatosis than those without MetS (P < 0.001). The MetS score was associated with PRFT and LFF. Logistic regression analysis showed that the PRFT and LFF were independent predictors of MetS after adjusting for age and sex. A cutoff of 9.15 mm for PRFT and 14.68% for LFF could be predictive of MetS.

Conclusions: This study shows that the absolute cutoff level of 9.15 mm for PRFT and 14.68% for LFF may be clinically important markers for identifying patients who are at high risk of MetS among adults with overweight and obesity with suspected NAFLD, irrespective of sex and age. Moreover, ectopic fat levels in pancreas and lumbar spine are positively associated with PRFT.

Trial registration: Not applicable.

Keywords: Intraorgan fat; Metabolic syndrome; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Perirenal fat.