Cutoffs of Abdominal Adipose Tissue Compartments as Measured by Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Detection of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Apparently Healthy Adult Asian Indians in North India

Background: We aimed to define cutoffs of abdominal adipose tissue depots [total abdominal adipose tissue (TAAT), intraabdominal adipose tissue (IAAT), and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT)] in adult Asian Indians in North India. Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study that included 100 healthy adult Asian Indians. Anthropometric measurement (waist circumference, body mass index), metabolic profile [oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), lipid profile], and imaging (for quantification of area of abdominal adipose tissue components using single slice magnetic resonance imaging) were done. Odds ratios (ORs) for detecting presence of greater than one cardiovascular (CV) risk factor were computed using tertiles of adipose tissue compartments and cutoffs were generated using receiver operating characteristics curve analysis. Results: The gender-specific cutoff limits for of TAAT, IAAT, and SCAT were 245.6 cm(2) (male) and 203.46 cm(2) (female), 135.3 cm(2) (male) and 75.73 cm(2) (female), and 110.74 cm(2) (male) and 134.02 cm(2) (female), respectively. For detection of CV risk factors, distinct gender differences were seen in ORs for SCAT [3.54 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10-11.46) and 6.6 (95% CI, 1.75-24.85) in males and females, respectively] but not for IAAT. Conclusions: The cutoffs of TAAT, IAAT, and SCAT generated for the first time in Asian Indians could be used for metabolic research, interethnic comparisons of adiposity and CV risk factors, and optimal selection of anthropometric parameters.