Gu Xi, Gao Ping, Shen Ying, Lu Leiqun
Department of Endocrinology, RuiJin Hospital Lu Wan Branch, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, No.149 Chongqing South Road, Shanghai, China.
BMC Public Health. 2025 Apr 15;25(1):1405. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-22557-y.
Research on the relationship between visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and serum uric acid (SUA) in the general population remains limited. This study aims to comprehensively examine the association between VAT area and SUA concentrations in a representative sample of U.S. adults.
Data were drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning 2011 to 2018. A total of 10,514 participants aged 18 to 59 years were included in the analysis. VAT area was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans, and SUA levels were collected at mobile examination centers. Multivariable linear regression models were employed to assess the association between VAT and SUA. Restricted cubic splines (RCS) were used to detect potential non-linear relationships. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on age, sex, drinking status, and renal function to test the robustness of the findings.
The median VAT area and SUA concentration were 91.24 cm² and 5.2 mg/dL, respectively. In the unadjusted model, each standard deviation (SD) increase in VAT was positively associated with SUA (β = 0.43; 95% CI: 0.39-0.47). After adjusting for covariates, this positive association remained consistent across all models. RCS analysis revealed a non-linear relationship (P for non-linearity < 0.001), with a stronger association observed when VAT was below 3.3 SDs. Significant interactions were identified in age and sex subgroups (P for interaction < 0.05).
This study demonstrates a positive, non-linear association between VAT area and SUA concentrations in young and middle-aged U.S. adults. The observed threshold effect provides valuable insight for clinicians in stratifying risks for hyperuricemia and related comorbidities, particularly among individuals with elevated VAT levels.
关于普通人群内脏脂肪组织（VAT）与血清尿酸（SUA）之间关系的研究仍然有限。本研究旨在全面检验美国成年人代表性样本中 VAT 面积与 SUA 浓度之间的关联。
数据来自 2011 年至 2018 年的美国国家健康与营养检查调查（NHANES）。分析共纳入 10514 名 18 至 59 岁的参与者。使用双能 X 线吸收法（DXA）扫描测量 VAT 面积，并在移动检查中心收集 SUA 水平。采用多变量线性回归模型评估 VAT 与 SUA 之间的关联。使用受限立方样条（RCS）检测潜在的非线性关系。基于年龄、性别、饮酒状况和肾功能进行亚组分析，以检验研究结果的稳健性。
VAT 面积中位数和 SUA 浓度分别为 91.24 cm²和 5.2 mg/dL。在未调整模型中，VAT 每增加一个标准差（SD）与 SUA 呈正相关（β = 0.43；95%CI：0.39 - 0.47）。调整协变量后，这种正相关在所有模型中均保持一致。RCS 分析显示存在非线性关系（非线性 P < 0.001），当 VAT 低于 3.3 个 SD 时关联更强。在年龄和性别亚组中发现了显著的交互作用（交互作用 P < 0.05）。
本研究表明美国中青年成年人的 VAT 面积与 SUA 浓度之间存在正的非线性关联。观察到的阈值效应为临床医生对高尿酸血症及相关合并症进行风险分层提供了有价值的见解，特别是在 VAT 水平升高的个体中。
