Contribution of visceral fat accumulation and adiponectin to the clustering of metabolic abnormalities in a Japanese population

Aim The clustering of metabolic abnormalities occurs not only due to abdominal obesity but also other etiologies. We investigated the contribution of visceral fat accumulation and the circulating adiponectin level to the clustering of metabolic abnormalities in a Japanese population. Methods We used the data for 1,989 Japanese employees to perform a structural equation modeling analysis. According to the concept of metabolic syndrome, we developed a multiple indicator multiple cause (MIMIC) model and investigated to what extent measurements of the visceral fat area (VFA) and circulating adiponectin levels explain the morbidity of clustering of metabolic abnormalities, represented as a latent variable termed "risk clustering." The following clinically measurable parameters were set as the phenotypes of the risk clustering: systolic blood pressure and glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, uric acid and alanine aminotransferase levels. Results The mean age of the subjects was 46±11 years, and 72% of the participants were men. A VFA of ≥100 cm(2) was observed in 32% of the subjects. The squared multiple correlation R(2) of the risk clustering was as high as 0.73, indicating that the measurements of the VFA and adiponectin levels explained 73% of the variance in the risk clustering. The R(2) between the risk clustering and metabolic parameters ranged from 0.14 to 0.54, thus indicating that these metabolic parameters reflected the development of morbidity of the risk clustering in the body within a range of 14% to 54%. Conclusions The measurements of the VFA and adiponectin level makes a considerable contribution to the risk clustering.