We investigated the association of adipose tissue volume and metabolic activity with cardiometabolic risk factors.

232 healthy subjects (43.23±4.09y) having ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) results were included. Clinical information, anthropometry and laboratory results were obtained. Volume and metabolic activity of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was obtained from FDG PET/CT. Metabolic activity was presented as mean standardised uptake value (SUV). Adipose tissue parameters were compared with clinical and biochemical factors. Independent factors affecting adipose tissue volume were assessed.

Both SAT and VAT volume showed strong positive correlation with most of cardiometabolic risk factors. Among them, lipid profiles, insulin and C-reactive protein (CRP) had more significant relationship with SUV of SAT than that of VAT. On the contrary, glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and degree of fatty liver showed more significant correlation with SUV of VAT. BMI, age, sex and CRP were independent predictors of SAT volume. BMI, age, triglyceride, CRP and fatty liver were independent variables predicting VAT volume. Adding SUV of adipose tissue improved the model performance.

This study demonstrated that metabolic activities of SAT and VAT were differently correlated with risk factors, suggesting different biologic mechanism for obesity.