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ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: Visceral fat, notably mesenteric fat, which is drained by the portal circulation, plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome through increased

production of free fatty acids, cytokines and vasoactive peptides. We hypothesize that mesenteric fat thickness as measured by ultrasound scan could explain most of the obesity-related

health risk. We explored the relationships between cardiovascular risk factors and abdominal fat as determined by sonographic measurements of thickness of mesenteric, preperitoneal and

subcutaneous fat deposits, total abdominal and visceral fat measurement by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and anthropometric indexes. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS: Subjects

included 18 healthy men and 19 women (age: 27–61 y, BMI: 19–33.4 kg/m2). MEASUREMENTS: The maximum thickness of mesenteric, preperitoneal and subcutaneous fat was measured by abdominal

ultrasound examination. MRI examinations of whole abdomen and pelvis were performed and the amount of total abdominal and visceral fat was quantified. The body mass index, waist

circumference and waist–hip ratio were recorded. Cardiovascular risk factors were assessed by physical examination and blood taking. RESULTS: Men had more adverse cardiovascular risk

profile, higher visceral fat volume and thicker mesenteric fat deposits than women. Among all the investigated obesity indexes, the mesenteric fat thickness showed the highest correlations

with total cholesterol, LDL-C, triglycerides, fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c and systolic blood pressure in men, and with triglycerides and HbA1c in women. On stepwise multiple regression

analysis with different obesity indexes as independent variables, 30–65% of the variances of triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-C and HbA1c in men, and triglycerides in women were

explained by the mesenteric fat thickness. CONCLUSION: Compared with sonographic measurement of subcutaneous and preperitoneal fat thickness, MRI measurement of total abdominal and visceral

fat and anthropometric indexes, sonographic measurement of mesenteric fat thickness showed better associations with some of the cardiovascular risk factors. It may potentially be a useful

tool to evaluate regional distribution of obesity in the assessment of cardiovascular risk. Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a preview of subscription content, access

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Log in * Learn about institutional subscriptions * Read our FAQs * Contact customer support SIMILAR CONTENT BEING VIEWED BY OTHERS VISCERAL-TO-PERIPHERAL ADIPOSITY RATIO: A CRITICAL

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John Libbey & company: London 1999, pp 547–554. Google Scholar  Download references ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Special thanks are extended to Dr Yang WT for her expert advice in the initial design

of this research study. We also thank Ms Delanda Wong, Yee Mui Lee and Cherry Chiu for their assistance in blood taking. AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Department of

Diagnostic Radiology and Organ Imaging, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR K H Liu, Y L Chan, W L Kong & M O Kong * Department

of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR W B Chan & J C N Chan Authors * K H Liu View author

publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Y L Chan View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * W B Chan View

author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * W L Kong View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * M O Kong

View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * J C N Chan View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to K H Liu. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Liu, K., Chan, Y., Chan, W. _et al._ Sonographic

measurement of mesenteric fat thickness is a good correlate with cardiovascular risk factors: comparison with subcutaneous and preperitoneal fat thickness, magnetic resonance imaging and

anthropometric indexes. _Int J Obes_ 27, 1267–1273 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802398 Download citation * Received: 03 January 2003 * Revised: 20 April 2003 * Accepted: 09 May

2003 * Published: 26 September 2003 * Issue Date: 01 October 2003 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802398 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you share the following link with will be able to

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initiative KEYWORDS * mesenteric fat thickness * subcutaneous fat thickness * preperitoneal fat thickness * cardiovascular risk factors * magnetic resonance imaging * ultrasound