Inverse association of plasma hydrogen sulfide levels with visceral fat area among Chinese young men: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the association between plasma Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) levels and visceral fat area (VFA) among Chinese young men. Subjects and methods: This cross-sectional study involved 156 Chinese male subjects, aged 18-45 years, who visited the First Hospital of Qinhuangdao (Hebei, China) in 2014 for annual health check-up. Participants were categorized into: low (VFA < 75.57 cm2), medium (75.57 cm2 ≤ VFA<100.37 cm2), and high (VFA ≥ 100.37 cm2) (n = 52/group). We estimated VFA and plasma H2S levels by using bioelectrical impedance analysis and a fluorescence probe-based approach, respectively. The associations of H2S with VFA and obesity anthropometric measures were assessed. Results: In the high VFA group, the body mass index (BMI, 30.4 ± 2.45 kg/m2), total body fat (TBF, 27.9 ± 3.23 kg), plasma H2S (3.5 μmol/L), free fatty acid (FFA, 0.6 ± 0.24 mmol/L), triglyceride (TG, 2.0 mmol/L), and total cholesterol (TC, 5.5 ± 1.02 mmol/L) levels were significantly higher than that of those of the low and medium VFA groups, respectively (P < 0.05). Plasma H2S levels were found to be inversely correlated with VFA, TBF, waist circumference, BMI, FFA, LnFINS, LnHOMA-IR, LnTG, TC, and LDL-C (P < 0.05). Multiple backward stepwise regression analysis revealed an inverse correlation of plasma H2S levels with FFA (β = −0.214, P = 0.005) and VFA (β = −0.429, P < 0.001), independent of adiposity measures and other confounding factors. Conclusion: VFA was independently and inversely associated with plasma H2S levels among Chinese young men. Therefore, determining plasma H2S levels could aid in the assessment of abnormal VAT distribution.

The relationship between the waist-to-height ratio and glucose and lipid metabolism in han adolescents.

Objective. To evaluate the relationship between waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and glucose and lipid metabolism in Han adolescents aged 13-15 years. Methods. A study was conducted on 1665 Han adolescents aged 13-15 years. Measurements included height, weight, waist circumference, fasting plasma glucose(FPG), triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The subjects were divided into two groups according to WHtR. Results.Compared with the control group (n=1340,WHtR<0.46), the abdominal obesity group(n=325,WHtRe”0.46) had significantly higher levels of body mass index (BMI) (26.3±3.6 vs 18.9±2.3), WHtR (0.51±0.04 vs 0.40±0.03), FPG (4.99±0.48 vs 4.86±0.46), and triglyceride (1.21±0.62 vs 0.87±0.41), and a lower level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (1.26±0.27 vs 1.46±0.30) (P<0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that after controlling for age, sex and BMI, the elevated FPG and dyslipidemia risk odds ratios of the abdominal obesity group were 1.954 (95% CI :1.250~3.054) and 2.012 (95% CI:1.204~3.362) (P<0.01) respectively. When clustered, the odds ratio of elevated FPG and dyslipidemia was 6.659 (95% CI: 1.337~33.159) (P<0.01). Conclusions. The waist-to-height ratio is an appropriate measure to assess dyslipidemic-diabetic adolescents and should be used to guide early intervention with the aim of future prevention of these linked diseases.