Aim: 

Visceral fat (VF) is an active endocrine organ that secretes several adipokines (ADKs) involved in insulin sensitivity regulation, food intake and inflammation. We investigated: 1) the relation between abdominal VF thickness, ADKs levels and insulin sensitivity in women with different BMI levels; 2) the effect of a Mediterranean diet-induced weight loss program (HypoMED) on these parameters.

Methods: 

194 women (BMI:29.4±4.9 kg/m2, age:48.3±12 ys) were recruited. VF thickness was measured by ultrasonography with convex-array probe (3.5 MHz), between the internal face of the abdominal muscle and the anterior wall of the aorta; leptin and adiponectin plasma levels were assessed by immunoenzymatic assay. 26 obese women underwent to HypoMED program for 12 weeks.

Results: 

VF directly correlated with BMI (0.4,p<0.05) and leptin (0.2,p<0.05), and inversely with adiponectin (0.1,p<0.05). Subjects in the highest VF quartile (>66.2 mm) showed significantly higher leptin, insulin, basal glucose, HOMA and lower adiponectin than in the lowest quartile (<36.6 mm). After weight loss (-6.9±2,8%) blood arterial pressure, insulin, HOMA, leptin, triglycerides and VF

significantly decreased, while adiponectin increased. Metabolic syndrome prevalence decreased after HypoMED program (48% vs 24% p= 0.03).

Conclusion: 

1) a link between VF and ADKs levels was evident; 2) in the short term HypoMED program may modulate adiponectin and leptin, abdominal adiposity and the most important risk factors related to obesity.