Yuqi Luo

Associations of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels with visceral adipose tissue in Chinese men with normal glucose tolerance.

Objective Decreased serum vitamin D level is a common observation in obese adults. Since no Chinese population-based study has yet evaluated the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and the accurate adiposity variables, this study investigated the association of serum vitamin D (assessed by 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3]) levels with precise body fat content and distribution in a cohort of Chinese men. Methods Serum samples were collected from a total of 567 men with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) for assessment by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay to measure 25(OH)D3 levels. In addition, each participant underwent bioelectrical impedance analysis to quantify total body fat and magnetic resonance imaging to measure visceral fat area (VFA) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA). Results Overweight/obese (BMI ≥25 kg/m2) subjects had significantly lower serum 25(OH)D3 levels than non-overweight/non-obese (BMI <25 kg/m2) subjects (P  = 0.029). Greater fat mass and VFA were accompanied by a downward trend in serum 25(OH)D3 levels (P for trend <0.01). Among overweight/obese subjects, those with body fat percent ≥25% also had significantly lower serum 25(OH)D3 levels (P <0.05). Moreover, participants with VFA ≥80 cm2 had significantly lower serum 25(OH)D3 (P <0.05), regardless of BMI value. VFA was independently correlated with serum 25(OH)D3 levels (β  =  −0.023, P <0.001), even after adjustments for confounding factors. In addition, serum 25(OH)D3 levels were found to decrease by 0.26 ng/mL per 10 cm2 increment of VFA. Conclusions Serum 25(OH)D3 levels were inversely associated with VFA in Chinese men with NGT.

Relationship between serum osteocalcin levels and carotid intima-media thickness in Chinese postmenopausal women.

Objective Serum osteocalcin has been shown to be closely related to metabolic risk factors. Therefore, the aim of our study was to evaluate the association between serum osteocalcin levels and subclinical atherosclerosis in Chinese postmenopausal women. Methods A total of 1,319 postmenopausal women (age range, 41-78 y) without any history of cardiovascular disease or carotid plaque were analyzed. Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay was used to measure total serum osteocalcin levels. B-mode ultrasound measurement of carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT) was used to evaluate subclinical atherosclerosis. Participants within the upper quartile of C-IMT measurements (≥0.65 mm) were classified as having increased C-IMT in the present study. C-IMT association with metabolic parameters was assessed by Spearman correlation analysis, whereas that with serum osteocalcin was assessed by multiple stepwise regression adjusted for potential confounders. Results The overall median (interquartile range) level of osteocalcin was 20.51 (16.71-24.98) ng/mL, and that of C-IMT was 0.60 (0.55-0.65) mm. Four hundred sixteen (31.5%) participants had increased C-IMT. Participants with increased C-IMT had significantly lower serum osteocalcin levels than those who had C-IMT lower than 0.65 mm (19.77 [16.17-24.52] vs 20.84 [16.92-25.39] ng/mL, P = 0.01). Serum osteocalcin level was significantly and negatively correlated with C-IMT (r = −0.107, P < 0.01) and was identified as an independent factor that significantly influenced C-IMT (standardized &bgr; = −0.117, P < 0.01). Conclusions Serum osteocalcin level is negatively associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in Chinese postmenopausal women.

Serum osteocalcin levels in relation to metabolic syndrome in Chinese postmenopausal women.

ObjectiveIt has been revealed that osteocalcin is a regulator of energy metabolism. We investigated the relationship between serum osteocalcin levels and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Chinese postmenopausal women. MethodsA total of 1,789 postmenopausal women, aged 41 to 78 years, were selected from four communities in Shanghai, China. Serum levels of osteocalcin were measured with an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. The diagnostic definition of MetS followed the 2007 Chinese Guidelines on Prevention and Treatment of Dyslipidemia in Adults. ResultsSerum osteocalcin levels were significantly lower in participants with MetS than in non-MetS participants (median [interquartile range], 18.51 [15.52-23.46] vs 21.09 [16.98-26.26] ng/mL, P < 0.01). The frequency of MetS and its components decreased with increasing increments of serum osteocalcin levels (all P for trend < 0.05), with the exception of the frequency of low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Serum osteocalcin levels significantly decreased with increasing number of metabolic disorders (P for trend < 0.01). Furthermore, binary logistic regression analysis revealed that participants with higher serum osteocalcin levels had lower odds ratios (ORs) for MetS (OR, 0.123; 95% CI, 0.053-0.283), central obesity (OR, 0.134; 95% CI, 0.060-0.299), and hyperglycemia (OR, 0.142; 95% CI, 0.066-0.302). ConclusionsSerum osteocalcin levels are negatively associated with MetS, particularly central obesity and hyperglycemia, in Chinese postmenopausal women.

Serum Adipocyte Fatty Acid Binding Protein Levels Are Positively Associated With Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Chinese Pre- and Postmenopausal Women With Normal Glucose Tolerance

CONTEXT Recent studies highlight a critical interaction between adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP) and cardiovascular disorders. However, associations of A-FABP with subclinical atherosclerosis in a population with normal glucose tolerance remain unknown. OBJECTIVE The study aimed to evaluate the relationship between A-FABP and carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT) in a Chinese population with normal glucose tolerance. DESIGN AND SETTING A cross-sectional analysis was conducted of 2253 cardiovascular disease-free normal glucose tolerance subjects (835 men, 1418 women; 20-78 years old) from the Shanghai Obesity Study. MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES C-IMT was measured by B-mode ultrasound and used to assess subclinical atherosclerosis. Serum A-FABP levels were quantified by a sandwich ELISA. RESULTS The median serum level for A-FABP was 4.0 ng/mL (interquartile range: 2.6-6.0 ng/mL), and significantly higher in women than men (P < .001). After adjusting for age and body mass index (BMI), a partial correlation analysis showed that A-FABP levels correlated with C-IMT in men, premenopausal, and postmenopausal women (P = .024, .006, and .016, respectively). Furthermore, C-IMT increased along with quartile A-FABP values (all P for trend <.001). Regression analyses demonstrated that A-FABP was associated with C-IMT only in women (P = .044 and .001 for pre- and postmenopausal, respectively). Moreover, A-FABP was identified as a risk factor for C-IMT in pre- and postmenopausal women with a normal BMI (P < .001 and P = .012, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Serum A-FABP levels independently and positively correlate with subclinical atherosclerosis in pre- and postmenopausal Chinese women with normal glucose tolerance after adjustments for the traditional risk factors.

Glycated albumin is more closely correlated with coronary artery disease than 1,5-anhydroglucitol and glycated hemoglobin A1c

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate the associations of two nontraditional glycemic markers, glycated albumin (GA) and 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG), as well as glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) with coronary artery disease (CAD).MethodsIn total, 272 subjects (178 men and 94 postmenopausal women) were enrolled in this study. All of them underwent coronary angiography which was used to diagnose CAD. The severity of coronary artery stenosis was assessed by the coronary stenosis index (CSI). GA and 1,5-AG were assayed using the enzymatic method, and HbA1c was detected by high-pressure liquid chromatography.ResultsThe HbA1c and GA levels were significantly higher in CAD group than those in non-CAD group (both P < 0.01). While the 1,5-AG level was significantly lower in CAD group than that in non-CAD group (P < 0.05). After adjustment for traditional risk factors of CAD, HbA1c, 1,5-AG, and GA, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that GA was an independent risk factor for CAD (odds ratio = 1.143, 95% confidence interval: 1.048-1.247, P = 0.002). With CSI as a dependent variable, multiple stepwise regression analysis demonstrated an independent positive correlation between GA and CSI (standardized β = 0.184, P = 0.003), beyond gender, age, and lipid-lowering therapy, after adjustment for traditional risk factors of CAD, HbA1c, 1,5-AG, and GA.ConclusionsGA was more closely correlated with CAD than HbA1c and 1,5-AG in a Chinese population with high risk of CAD.

Serum vitamin D is associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Chinese males with normal weight and liver enzymes

Aim:Considering the characterization of vitamin D deficiency as a risk factor of ectopic fat deposition, the association of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] levels with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was evaluated in Chinese men with normal body mass index (BMI) and enzyme markers of liver function.Methods:A total of 514 participants (22 to 79 years old) with normal BMI and liver enzymes were identified for analysis. Abdominal ultrasound was performed to diagnose NAFLD, and the fatty liver index (FLI) was calculated to quantify liver steatosis. Serum 25(OH)D3 levels were determined by an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay.Results:Among the entire study population, the mean levels of serum 25(OH)D3 were 15.32±5.77 ng/mL. However, when serum 25(OH)D3 levels were compared between non-NAFLD subjects (n=438) and NAFLD subjects (n=76), the latter showed significantly lower levels (15.65±5.89 ng/mL vs 13.46±4.65 ng/mL, P=0.002). In addition, serum 25(OH)D3 levels were found to be significantly correlated with FLI after adjustment for age and BMI (r=−0.108, P=0.014). Logistic regression showed that serum 25(OH)D3 levels were independently correlated with NAFLD (OR: 0.937, 95% CI: 0.884–0.993, P=0.028). Furthermore, stepwise regression analysis revealed that serum 25(OH)D3 levels were inversely associated with FLI (β=−0.055, P=0.040).Conclusion:The present study demonstrated that serum 25(OH)D3 levels were inversely associated with NAFLD, even in subjects with normal total body fat, suggesting a potential role of lower levels of vitamin D in the occurrence and development of NAFLD.

Neck circumference as an effective measure for identifying cardio-metabolic syndrome: a comparison with waist circumference

Neck circumference is a new anthropometric index for estimating obesity. We aimed to determine the relationship between neck circumference and body fat content and distribution as well as the efficacy of neck circumference for identifying visceral adiposity and metabolic disorders. A total of 1943 subjects (783 men, 1160 women) with a mean age of 58 ± 7 years were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the standard in the 2013 China Guideline. Analyses were conducted to determine optimal neck circumference cutoff points for visceral adiposity quantified by magnetic resonance imaging, and to compare the performance of neck circumference with that of waist circumference in identifying abdominal obesity and metabolic disorders. Visceral fat content was independently correlated with neck circumference. Receiver operating characteristic curves showed that the area under the curve for the ability of neck circumference to determine visceral adiposity was 0.781 for men and 0.777 for women. Moreover, in men a neck circumference value of 38.5 cm had a sensitivity of 56.1 % and specificity of 83.5 %, and in women, a neck circumference value of 34.5 cm had a sensitivity of 58.1 % and specificity of 82.5 %. These values were the optimal cutoffs for identifying visceral obesity. There were no statistically significant differences between the proportions of metabolic syndrome and its components identified by an increased neck circumference and waist circumference. Neck circumference has the same power as waist circumference for identifying metabolic disorders in a Chinese population.

Inverse Association of Serum Vitamin D in Relation to Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Chinese Postmenopausal Women

Objective This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum vitamin D level and carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT) in Chinese postmenopausal women. Methods Nine hundred and twenty six Chinese postmenopausal women without carotid artery plaque or history of cardiovascular disease were selected for analysis. Measurements of serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) concentration and C-IMT were made by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay and B-mode ultrasound, respectively. Trend analysis was conducted according to tertiles of C-IMT. Results The median serum 25(OH)D3 level was 11.03 ng/mL, with an interquartile range of 8.22–14.70. A decreasing trend of serum 25(OH)D3 level was accompanied by increased C-IMT tertiles (P for trend = 0.001). Correlation analysis found an inverse relationship between serum 25(OH)D3 level and C-IMT (r = –0.113, P = 0.001). After adjustment for confounding factors, multiple regression analysis showed that serum 25(OH)D3 level independently and negatively associated with C-IMT (Standard β = –0.112, P < 0.001). Moreover, the inverse correlation of serum 25(OH)D3 with C-IMT was also found in a subgroup of women with normal glucose tolerance, blood pressure and body mass index, and without undergoing lipid-lowering therapy (standard β = –0.140, P = 0.018). Conclusions Serum 25(OH)D3 level was inversely correlated with C-IMT in Chinese postmenopausal women.

Positive relationship between serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and visceral fat in a Chinese nondiabetic population.

Background It has been reported that obesity and serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) are important risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD). It is recognized that regionalized adiposity has different cardiovascular risk, visceral versus subcutaneous, is a better predictor of CVD. However, the relationship between regionalized adiposity and LDL-c is unclear. The present study was designed to investigate the relationship between visceral fat accumulation and serum LDL-c levels in a Chinese cohort. Methods A total of 1 538 subjects (539 men, 999 women; 20–75 years old) with normal glucose tolerance and blood pressure were recruited. All subjects underwent magnetic resonance imaging to quantify visceral fat area (VFA) and subcutaneous fat area. Serum LDL-c levels were detected by direct assay method. Results Overweight/obese subjects (body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2) had significantly higher serum LDL-c levels than the lean subjects (BMI <25 kg/m2) (P<0.01). An increasing trend in serum LDL-c levels was found to accompany the increase in VFA (P for trend <0.01). Within the same BMI category, subjects with abdominal obesity (VFA ≥80 cm2) had significantly higher LDL-c levels than those without abdominal obesity (VFA <80 cm2) (P<0.05). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that increased VFA was an independent risk factor for elevated LDL-c levels, not only in the entire study population (Standard β = 0.138; P<0.01), but also when the study population was subdivided into men, premenopausal and postmenopausal women (Standard β = 0.117, 0.145, 0.090 respectively for men, premenopausal women, postmenopausal women; all P<0.01). Conclusions VFA was positively correlated with serum LDL-c levels in a nondiabetic Chinese population with normal blood pressure.

Associations of Serum Adipocyte Fatty Acid Binding Protein With Body Composition and Fat Distribution in Nondiabetic Chinese Women

CONTEXT Previous studies have demonstrated evidence of a positive relationship between serum adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP) and obesity. However, associations of A-FABP with body composition and ectopic fat accumulation remain unclear. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to elucidate the effect of body composition, visceral fat area (VFA), and subcutaneous fat area (SFA) on serum A-FABP levels in a cohort of Chinese women without diabetes mellitus. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A total of 2108 women without diabetes (760 premenopausal and 1348 postmenopausal women; age, 20-78 y) selected from the Shanghai Obesity Study were enrolled. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES VFA and SFA were measured by magnetic resonance imaging, and body composition was determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis. A high VFA was defined as ≥ 80 cm(2). A high SFA was defined as that above the 75th percentile cutoff point of the menopause-specific population, respectively. RESULTS Serum A-FABP levels were higher in postmenopausal than premenopausal women (P < .001). Both premenopausal and postmenopausal women with an isolated high VFA had higher A-FABP levels than did those with an isolated high SFA (P = .017 and .002, respectively). In both body mass index (BMI) groups (< 25 and ≥ 25 kg/m(2)), women with a high VFA had higher serum A-FABP levels regardless of their menopausal status. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that A-FABP was independently associated with fat mass (Standardized β = 0.417 and 0.252 for premenopausal and postmenopausal status, respectively, both P < .001). Moreover, VFA was identified as an independent risk factor for A-FABP in postmenopausal women (Standardized β = 0.114, P = .001). Application of the same regression analyses model to the two BMI groups produced similar results in both BMI categories. CONCLUSIONS Serum A-FABP levels were associated with fat mass, and were also influenced by VFA after menopause in Chinese women without diabetes mellitus.