Association Between Visceral Fat Distribution and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Metabolic Syndrome
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61336/jdme.0501.05Keywords:
Visceral adipose tissue, metabolic syndrome, inflammation; hs-CRPAbstract
Visceral adipose tissue is metabolically active and may contribute to the chronic low-grade inflammatory state observed in metabolic syndrome. However, the relationship between visceral fat distribution and individual inflammatory biomarkers may vary according to adiposity, sex, and metabolic characteristics. This study evaluated the association between visceral fat distribution and circulating inflammatory biomarkers in adults with metabolic syndrome. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 184 adults aged 35–70 years who fulfilled established criteria for metabolic syndrome. Visceral and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue were estimated using abdominal magnetic resonance imaging, while serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and adiponectin were measured using standardized laboratory assays. Anthropometric measurements, fasting glucose, insulin, lipid profile, and blood pressure were also assessed. Participants with greater visceral adipose tissue volume had significantly higher hs-CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α concentrations and lower adiponectin concentrations than participants with lower visceral fat accumulation. Visceral fat was more strongly correlated with inflammatory biomarkers than BMI or total body-fat percentage. After adjustment for age, sex, BMI, smoking status, physical activity, and insulin resistance, visceral adipose tissue remained independently associated with hs-CRP and IL-6 concentrations. Participants in the highest visceral-fat tertile had approximately 2.9-fold greater odds of having a high inflammatory burden compared with those in the lowest tertile. These findings suggest that the distribution of adipose tissue, particularly visceral accumulation, may be more closely related to systemic inflammatory activity than overall body size in adults with metabolic syndrome.
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