Visceral Fat Mass Has Stronger Associations with Diabetes and Prediabetes than Other Anthropometric Obesity Indicators among Korean Adults

PURPOSE: This study determined which obesity measurement correlates the best with diabetes and prediabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 1603 subjects (611 men, 992 women; age 30-64 years) at the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Research Center. Body mass index, waist circumference, waist-height ratio, waist-hip ratio, waist-thigh ratio, and visceral fat were used as measures of obesity. Visceral fat was acquired using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The prevalences of diabetes and prediabetes were defined using the criteria in the American Diabetes Association 2015 guidelines. RESULTS: After adjusting for age and other potential confounding factors, participants with a visceral fat mass in the upper 10th percentile had a higher odds ratio (OR) for diabetes and prediabetes than the upper 10th percentile of other adiposity indices [men, OR=15.9, 95% confidence interval (CI)=6.4-39.2; women, OR=6.9, 95% CI=3.5-13.7]. Visceral fat mass also had the highest area under the curve with diabetes and prediabetes in both men (0.69, 95% CI=0.64-0.73) and women (0.70, 95% CI=0.67-0.74) compared to other anthropometric measurements of obesity. CONCLUSION: Visceral fat mass measured using DXA is an indicator of diabetes or prediabetes, due to its ability to differentiate between abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat.

Dietary glycemic load, glycemic index, and refined grains intake are associated with reduced beta-cell function in prediabetic Japanese migrants / Associação entre carga glicêmica da dieta, índice glicêmico e consumo de cereais refinados e função reduzida das células-beta em migrantes japoneses com pré-diabetes

Objective: To investigate the association between carbohydrate intakes and β-cell function (HOMA-β) in Japanese-Brazilians with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Methods: Dietary intakes were assessed by a validated food frequency questionnaire in a cross-sectional survey carried out in 2000. The associations between diet and HOMA-β were verified in 270 newly diagnosed IGT in multiple linear regression models. Results: The mean (SD) age was 58 (11) years and the mean HOMA-β was 65 (47). The glycemic load was inversely associated with HOMA-β, β1 -0.140 (95%CI = -1.044; -0.078), p = 0.023. The inverse association was also observed for refined grains intakes: -0.186 (95%CI = -0.4862; -0.058), p = 0.012. After adjustments for body mass index, the glycemic index was inversely associated with HOMA-β: -0.1246 (95%CI = -2.2482, -0.0257), p < 0.001. Conclusions: These data suggested that dietary glycemic load, glycemic index, and refined grains intakes are associated with reduced β-cell function, and the quality of dietary carbohydrates may be relevant for maintaining β-cell function among individuals with IGT.

Objetivo: Investigar a associação entre o consumo de carboidratos e função das células-β (HOMA-β) em nipo-brasileiros portadores de tolerância à glicose diminuída (TGD). Métodos: O consumo alimentar habitual foi avaliado por meio do questionário quantitativo de frequência alimentar previamente validado em estudo transversal conduzido em 2000. A associação entredieta e HOMA-β foi verificada em 270 indivíduos portadores de TGD em modelos de regressão logística ajustados. Resultados: A média (DP) de idade foi 58 (11) anos e do HOMA-β foi 65 (47). A carga glicêmica foi inversamente associada ao HOMA-β, β1 -0.140 (95%CI = -1.044; -0.078), p = 0,023. Associação inversa com o consumo de cereais refinados também foi observada: -0.186 (95%CI = -0.4862; -0.058), p = 0,012. Após ajuste pelo índice de massa corpórea, foi verificada a associação inversa entre índice glicêmico e HOMA-β: -0.1246 (95%CI = -2.2482, -0.0257), p < 0,001. Conclusões: Os dados indicam que a carga glicêmica da dieta, o índice glicêmico e o consumo de cereais refinados estão associados a uma função reduzida das células-β e que aqualidade dos carboidratos da dieta habitual pode ser relevante na manutenção da função de células-β entre indivíduos portadores de TGD.