Abstract
Objective: Hyperuricemia is not a constituent factor of metabolic syndrome (MS) due to visceral fat accumulation but is suspected to be related to MS. Based on health screening examination results, we determined if there was a relationship between serum uric acid levels and visceral fat area. In this regard, visceral fat area obtained from abdominal computed tomography (CT) is considered to be better than waist circumference for evaluating visceral fat accumulation.
Methods: Taking the 181 Japanese (100 men and 81 women) who underwent annual medical check-up and CT from January to December 2007 at the Seamen’s Insurance Health Care and Research Center as our subjects, we calculated visceral fat areas from CT images. The definition of MS used was that in accordance with the Japanese criteria.
Results: Serum uric acid levels in the group of subjects with visceral fat areas of over 100 cm2 (n=68) were higher than those in the group with areas of below 100 cm2 (n=113). Serum uric acid levels in the MS group (n=30) were higher than those in the none-MS group (n=151). Similarly, serum uric acid levels in the group with no constituent factors of MS (high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, high fasting plasma glucose) were lower than those in the groups with 1 and 2 or more constituent factors of MS. There was a positive correlation between visceral fat areas and serum uric acid levels. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that visceral fat accumulation (visceral fat area of over 100 cm2) was a risk factor of hyperuricemia.
Conclusions: Serum uric acid levels are associated with visceral fat accumulation and may be a prognostic indicator for the onset of MS.
