Visceral adiposity in persons with chronic spinal cord injury determined by dual energy X-Ray absorptiometry

ObjectiveTo determine visceral adipose tissue (VAT) volume (VAT(vol)) by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in spinal cord injured (SCI) and able-bodied (AB) participants and to explore the relationships between VAT(vol) and routine anthropometric measures. MethodsSixty-three subjects with SCI and 126 healthy male AB controls were stratified as low risk [LR: waist circumference (WC)<102 cm] and moderate to high risk (MHR: WC102 cm) for identification of risk for cardiometabolic disease: AB-LR, SCI-LR, AB-MHR, and SCI-MHR. Anthropometrics and standard body composition measurements by DXA with analysis to derive VAT(vol) were performed. ResultsComparison of the four subgroups demonstrated the highest subcutaneous adipose tissue volume (SAT(vol)) in the AB-MHR group (P<0.01), and the highest VAT(vol) in the SCI-MHR group (P<0.01). Furthermore, when compared to the AB group, participants with SCI had a 27% increase in VAT(vol) for every centimeter increase in WC and a 20% increase in VAT(vol) for every unit increase in BMI. ConclusionsBecause cutoff values for the routine surrogate measures of adiposity underestimate visceral adiposity in persons with SCI, the risk of adverse metabolic consequences would also be underestimated, which necessitates adjustment of the these cutoff values or, preferably, to perform its direct measurement.