Measured and predicted total and visceral adipose tissue in women. Correlations with metabolic parameters.

The aim of this study was the verification of the clinical utility of predictive equations for total and intra-abdominal adipose tissue areas. Formulas were calculated using computed tomography (CT) as the gold standard. Ninety-three females were randomly divided into two groups. The predictive equation group was used to calculate the predictive equations for computed tomography adipose tissue areas at the L4-L5 level. These equations were then used to predict total and intra-abdominal adipose tissue area in the validation group. Correlations were made between metabolic parameters and both measured and calculated areas and single predictors. The following measurements were carried out: age, weight/height ratio, body mass index, waist, hip, waist/hip ratio, ultrasound measurement of intra-abdominal distance between abdominal muscle and aorta, sagittal abdominal diameter by CT, adipose tissue intra-abdominal area by CT, total abdominal adipose tissue area by CT. Blood glucose and insulin both fasting and after glucose load. Fasting cholesterol and triglycerides. The best predictors of total and visceral adipose tissue areas were, respectively: weight/height ratio and ultrasound intra-abdominal measurement. Correlations between metabolic parameters and adipose tissue areas both as measured and as calculated by predictive equations were quite similar. Correlations between metabolic parameters and single best predictors of measured adipose tissue areas also gave the same results. Some simple and safe anthropometric measurements can be used, instead of total and visceral adipose tissue area as assessed by CT, when studying associations between adipose tissue and metabolic parameters on sufficiently large groups of patients.