The "hyper-triglyceridemic waist phenotype" is a reliable marker for prediction of accumulation of abdominal visceral fat in Chinese adults.

purposeThe "hyper-triglyceridemic waist (HTW) phenotype" is relatively convenient to identify, acquired readily, and is inexpensive. We explored the relationship between the HTW phenotype and abdominal-fat accumulation in Chinese adults.

methodsThe study cohort comprised 195 adults divided into four groups according to triglyceride (TG) concentration and waist circumference (WC): normal (A), "hyper-TG" (B), "hyper-WC" (C) and the HTW phenotype (D). The abdominal-fat compartment was measured by magnetic resonance imaging. A 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was administered after an overnight fast. Clinical, anthropometric and laboratory data were analyzed.

resultsIndividuals with the HTW phenotype had the highest WC, Conicity Index, waist:hip ratio and abdominal visceral fat (AVF) area, and the highest TG and uric-acid concentrations among the four groups. People with the HTW phenotype were older, had higher blood pressure than those with normal WC (groups A and B). In the OGTT, participants with the HTW phenotype had the highest insulin resistance and lowest insulin sensitivity. In binary logistic regression analysis, age, sex, Body Mass Index, high concentrations of density lipoprotein-cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and the HTW phenotype were independent risk factors for predicting AVF accumulation with a sensitivity of 81.08% and specificity of 90.91%.

conclusionsChinese adults with the HTW phenotype had the highest AVF area and insulin resistance, and were associated with higher blood pressure than individuals with normal WC. The HTW phenotype is a reliable marker for prediction of AVF accumulation associated with insulin resistance. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.