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Journal of Clinical Medicine Research

Original Article

Volume 10, Number 8, August 2018, pages 630-635

Association Between Visceral Fat Accumulation and Exercise Tolerance in Non-Obese Subjects Without Diabetes

Metabolic syndrome (MetS), defined as a combination of at least two metabolic abnormalities, in addition to central adiposity, including hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, is implicated as a risk factor for the onset of type 2 diabetes and/or atherosclerotic disease [1, 2]. According to the World Health Organization criteria, insulin resistance is considered a major pathology that contributes to MetS [3]. In addition, considerable epidemiological and physiological evidence suggests that obesity, particularly the accumulation of visceral adipose tissue, is an important factor for metabolic risk and insulin resistance [4]. In Japan, the reported prevalence of MetS among diabetic subjects is 50% in men and 30% in women [5]. Obesity-related insulin resistance is a powerful risk factor for the onset of type 2 diabetes and a precursor of MetS; it is recognized as the root cause for the progression of atherosclerosis.

In Caucasians, the prevalence of obesity is high among those with diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease. However, many individuals with an Asian origin, including those with a Japanese origin [6], who have diabetes or atherosclerosis, have a body mass index (BMI) < 25 kg/m², and are classified as normal weight. In addition, approximately 80% of cardiovascular disease mortality is accounted for by non-obese patients (BMI < 25 kg/m²) [7]. The pathophysiology of diabetes and atherosclerosis in non-obese Asians, including the Japanese, remains unclear. Thus, it is crucial to determine the pathological significance in non-obese individuals, including the relationship between metabolic abnormalities and exercise tolerance [8].

Patients with a high tolerance for exercise and physical activities typically have a relatively lower visceral fat area. Reduced exercise tolerance is a known independent factor for the onset of MetS [9, 10]. Furthermore, moderate or higher-intensity physical activity is known to reduce visceral fat and reduce the risk of MetS or minimize its severity [11, 12]. In addition, recent studies have demonstrated that MetS is associated with heart rate (HR) [13] and blood pressure (BP) response during and after exercise [14]. However, to our knowledge, no studies have investigated the impact of the presence of MetS components on HR and BP response during and after exercise in non-obese individuals without diabetes.

Therefore, we investigated the associations between exercise tolerance and factors related to MetS in non-obese subjects who did not have diabetes.

Japanese men aged 30 - 50 years who did not have diabetes were enrolled for the Sportology Center Core Study through poster announcements at major companies and internet advertisements [15, 16]. Subjects, who were undergoing treatment for hypertension, lipid disorders, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, cancer, renal failure, or serious hepatic dysfunction, were excluded. We also performed a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test to rule out diabetes at the baseline screening. We initially enrolled 98 Japanese men who did not have diabetes and whose BMI was 21 kg/m² to 24.9 kg/m². To assess the parameters of the cardiopulmonary exercise test using a bicycle ergometer, we excluded 24 subjects for whom complete data regarding BP and HR during and after exercise testing were unavailable. Finally, we enrolled 74 non-obese men without diabetes in this study. All the subjects gave written informed consent for study participation. This study was approved by the ethics committee of the institute and was conducted as per the principles in the Declaration of Helsinki.

Based on the definition of MetS in Japan [15], we defined the following three cardiometabolic risk factors: hyperglycemia (fasting plasma glucose level ≥ 110 mg/dL), dyslipidemia (triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/dL and/or high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol < 40 mg/dL), and hypertension (systolic BP ≥ 130 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP ≥ 85 mm Hg) in addition to high abdominal circumference (≥ 85 cm for men). The subjects were then divided into the following two groups: subjects without any MetS risk factors (n = 38, Group A) and those with one or two MetS risk factors (n = 36, Group B).

Body height, body weight, and abdominal circumference were measured for each subject. Magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen was performed at the level of the navel to consistently quantify the visceral fat area [17]. The subjects fasted for 10 h, and blood samples were collected early in the morning. Laboratory examinations were conducted to measure the complete blood cell count, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, blood glucose, insulin, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), high-molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (γ-GT), and creatinine levels. Homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated using the fasting insulin and fasting glucose concentrations.

Exercise tolerance was evaluated using a cardiopulmonary exercise test with a bicycle ergometer (Corival 400, Lobe B.V., Groningen, Netherlands). Exercise was started at a workload (W) of 40 W, and the load (ramp) was gradually increased at a rate of 15 W/min. BP and HR were measured at rest, during exercise when the peak value was attained, and during recovery phases at 1, 3, and 5 min after the exercise. An expiratory gas analysis machine (Vmax-295, Sensor Medics Co., Yorba Linda, CA, USA) was used to measure the anaerobic threshold (AT) and maximal oxygen uptake. The AT point was determined using the “V-slope” method, as previously described [18].

Results are expressed as mean ± standard deviation values. The significance levels were calculated using the Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test for non-continuous variables and Student’s t-test for continuous variables. The relationship of maximum oxygen uptake, visceral fat area, and other risk factors was assessed using Pearson’s correlation co-efficient, as appropriate. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship of exercise tolerance with the demographic characteristics and clinical data of the patients. In a multiple regression model, a standardized partial regression coefficient (β) is the slope coefficient; this β value has the advantage of being comparable between independent variables because the unit of measurement is eliminated. JMP12 (for Windows, SAS Institute, Cary, NC) was used for the statistical analyses, and P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

The mean age of the 74 subjects was 43.1 ± 3.8 years and was not significantly different between the two groups (Table 1). The BMI levels of Group B were significantly higher than those of Group A (24.0 ± 0.5 vs. 22.9 ± 1.0 kg/m², P < 0.01). The abdominal circumference (85.8 ± 4.5 vs. 81.1 ± 5.2 cm, P < 0.01), visceral fat area (99.1 ± 23.6 vs. 77.5 ± 30.2 cm², P < 0.01), systolic BP (133 ± 13 vs. 118 ± 7 mmHg, P < 0.01), LDL-cholesterol (125 ± 28 vs. 110 ± 23 mg/dL, P < 0.05), triglycerides (179 ± 100 vs. 74 ± 29 mg/dL, P < 0.01), fasting glucose (97 ± 8 vs. 93 ± 6 mg/dL, P < 0.01), fasting insulin (6.2 ± 3.2 vs. 4.2 ± 1.9 µU/dL, P < 0.01), HOMA-IR (1.5 ± 0.8 vs. 0.9 ± 0.4 mg/dL, P < 0.01), AST (26 ± 6 vs. 20 ± 5 IU/L, P < 0.01), ALT (33 ± 19 vs. 20 ± 7 IU/L, P < 0.01), and γ-GT (59 ± 50 vs. 34 ± 26 IU/L, P < 0.01) were significantly higher in Group B than in Group A. The levels of HDL-cholesterol (55 ± 14 vs. 64 ± 12 mg/dL, P < 0.01) and HMW adiponectin (0.9 ± 0.7 vs. 1.7 ± 1.2 µg/mL, P < 0.01) were significantly lower in Group B than in Group A. The prevalence of MetS was significantly higher in Group B than in Group A (22% vs. 0%, P < 0.01).

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Table 1. Characteristics of Each Group

The levels of resting HR (79 ± 11 vs. 74 ± 13 bpm, P < 0.05), resting BP (136 ± 10 vs. 124 ± 11 mm Hg, P < 0.01), and BP at maximal exercise (223 ± 22 vs. 205 ± 21 mm Hg, P < 0.01) were significantly higher in Group B than in Group A (Table 2). There were no significant differences in the HR at maximal exercise or in the HR and BP after exercise between the two groups.

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Table 2. Comparison of Parameters of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test in Each Group

The levels of AT (16.3 ± 3.8 vs. 20.1 ± 6.1 mL/kg/min, P < 0.01) and maximal oxygen uptake (30.5 ± 5.7 vs. 35.4 ± 7.1 mL/kg/min, P < 0.01) were significantly lower in Group B than in Group A (Table 2).

In all the 74 non-obese subjects, there was a significant negative correlation between the visceral fat area and exercise tolerance (r = -0.37, P < 0.01) (Fig. 1). The abdominal circumference highly and positively correlated with the visceral fat area. In addition, the levels of AST, ALT, and γ-GT were also highly and positively correlated with each value. Therefore, we performed multivariable linear regression analysis as follows. In a multivariate analysis including BMI, visceral fat area, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, fasting glucose, HOMA-IR, AST, and HMW adiponectin, only visceral fat area was significantly associated with exercise tolerance (β = -0.26, P = 0.04) (Table 3). However, multivariate analysis including BMI, abdominal circumference, BP at rest, BP at maximal exercise, triglycerides, HDL-C, fasting glucose, HOMA-IR, AST, and HMW adiponectin, showed that no significant independent factors were associated with exercise tolerance (Table 4).

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Figure 1. Correlation between the visceral fat area and maximum oxygen uptake. A significant inverse relationship was observed between the visceral fat area and maximum oxygen uptake in the non-obese subjects (r = -0.37, P < 0.01, n = 74).

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Table 3. Multiple Linear Regression Analysis of Factors on Exercise Tolerance in Non-Obese Subjects

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Table 4. Multiple Linear Regression Analysis of Factors on Exercise Tolerance in Non-Obese Subjects

The present study showed that abdominal circumference and visceral fat area were higher, while AT and maximal oxygen uptake were lower in Group B (non-obese subjects with one or two MetS risk factors) than in Group A (non-obese subjects without any MetS risk factors). In addition, the visceral fat area was a significant determinant for exercise tolerance even in non-obese subjects without diabetes.

Previous studies have reported an association between visceral fat and exercise tolerance [19-21]. In Japanese patients with impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes, the levels of cardiorespiratory fitness were associated with metabolic abnormalities, including visceral fat area [19]. In first-degree blood relatives of individuals with type 2 diabetes, increased visceral fat accumulation and reduced maximal oxygen uptake were observed compared to that in subjects without a family history of diabetes [20]. People without diabetes but with low cardiorespiratory fitness had a significantly higher visceral fat than those with high cardiorespiratory fitness [21]. These previous studies included people with obesity and/or diabetes. Therefore, to our knowledge, the present study is the first report to demonstrate an association between visceral fat accumulation and exercise tolerance in non-obese subjects without diabetes.

In the present study, a multivariate analysis showed that only visceral fat area was a significant factor associated with exercise tolerance. The precise underlying mechanism by which excess abdominal fat accumulation leads to exercise intolerance remains unclear. Nyholm et al reported that both visceral adiposity and reduced aerobic fitness were strongly associated with insulin resistance [20]. Usui et al also demonstrated that abdominal fat accumulation was a significant factor for insulin resistance [21]. Insulin resistance is associated with the increased secretion of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and free fatty acids, as well as decreased secretion of adiponectin from the visceral adipose tissue [22]. Elevated levels of TNF-α are reportedly associated with reduced skeletal muscle strength and exercise capacity [23]. In addition, TNF-α may mediate the down-regulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1α, resulting in impaired skeletal muscle function [24]. These mechanisms could impair exercise tolerance via vascular endothelial and skeletal muscle dysfunction. It has been recently reported that abdominal obesity is associated with an increased risk of mortality in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) [25, 26]. HFpEF patients frequently present with coexisting MetS and have a high systemic proinflammatory state that leads to myocardial inflammation and fibrosis, oxidative stress, and alterations in the cardiomyocyte signaling pathways. These alterations promote microvascular and cardiac dysfunction [25, 26]. In fact, a reduction in the visceral adipose tissue was independently related to an improvement in the cardiometabolic risk profile and cardiorespiratory fitness [27].

In most Asian countries, the mean BMI of patients with diabetes ranges from 20 kg/m² to 25 kg/m² [6]. Furthermore, MetS commonly develops in Asians with a normal BMI, as compared to that in BMI-matched non-Hispanic Caucasians and African Americans [7]. A recent position statement from the American Diabetes Association revised the recommended BMI cutoff for screening Asian American type 2 diabetes from 25 kg/m² to 23 kg/m² [28, 29]. We recently reported that muscle insulin resistance is present in Japanese men with even one cardiometabolic risk factor and a BMI of 23 kg/m² to 25 kg/m² [15]. Therefore, the threshold of tissue-specific insulin resistance in an Asian population may be a BMI that falls in the range of 23 kg/m² to 25 kg/m².

Rest exercise transition and exercise recovery transitions reflect changes in the combinations of parasympathetic withdrawal and sympathetic activation and parasympathetic nervous system reactivation, respectively [30, 31]. Cardiovascular abnormalities and aberrations in these transitions have been reported in patients with obesity/overweight [32] and diabetes [33]. A high resting HR in subjects with insulin resistance is thought to serve as a compensatory mechanism adopted to maintain the cardiac output in response to a lower stroke volume [13, 33]. In the present study, significant differences in the resting BP and BP at maximal exercise, but not in the BP after exercise, were observed between the two groups. In addition, there were no significant differences in the HR at maximal exercise and during exercise between the two groups. The present study enrolled non-obese subjects without diabetes. This could be the reason for the lack of significant differences in the BP levels of the two groups in the recovery phase after exercise testing.

The present study had certain limitations. First, this study had a small sample size and employed a cross sectional design. Therefore, we were unable to prove any causal relationships between visceral fat accumulation and exercise tolerance. Second, we did not collect data regarding the proinflammatory mediators, including TNF-α. Future studies are warranted to confirm and clarify our findings. Third, we enrolled Japanese men aged between 30 - 50 years who did not have diabetes. Thus, our data has limited generalizability.

The results of this study suggest that visceral fat area is a significant determinant for exercise tolerance even in non-obese subjects who do not have diabetes. Large-scale prospective studies need to be conducted to confirm and clarify the present findings.

Grant Support

This work was supported by the High Technology Research Center Grant from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology, Japan.

Conflict of Interest

None declared.

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