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Saturation of subcutaneous adipose tissue expansion and accumulation of ectopic fat associated with metabolic dysfunction during late and post-pubertal growth

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Abstract

Background/Objective:

Puberty is a period defined by large changes in adipose tissue accumulation and distribution; however, longitudinal patterns of ectopic fat development have not been shown. We have previously shown significant declines in beta-cell function (BCF) across puberty and hypothesize that accumulation of ectopic fat deposition, particularly hepatic fat, will predict this fall.

Subject/Methods:

We conducted a longitudinal study and examined 2-year change in abdominal fat distribution and type 2 diabetes risk markers in 76 Hispanic children and young adults (16.1±0.5 years, 66% obese, 52% male, 51% post-pubertal). Subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (SAAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), hepatic fat fraction (HFF) and pancreatic fat fraction (PFF) were measured by 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging, and markers of type 2 diabetes risk were collected at fasting and during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

Results:

Baseline pubertal status significantly moderated the 2-year change in ectopic fat deposition, such that VAT, HFF and PFF increased in individuals during late and post-pubertal growth, whereas children earlier in their pubertal development decreased ectopic accumulation and had less VAT accumulation (VAT: pTanner*time=0.044, 0.31±0.08 l vs 0.03±0.10 l; HFF: pTanner*time=0.007, 1.34±0.87% vs −2.61±1.11%; PFF: pTanner*time<0.001, 1.61±0.39% vs −0.96±0.50%). Independent of pubertal status, the 2-year increase in HFF and VAT significantly associated with a decline in BCF (ß=−1.04, P=0.038; ß=−1.81, P=0.020) and metabolic function, while accumulation of SAAT significantly associated with BCF (ß=1.36, P=0.012) and metabolic improvement. HFF accumulation was the only depot to significantly predict clinical markers of type 2 diabetes risk, fasting glucose and HbA1c, and circulating free fatty acid levels (ß=1.00, P=0.034; ß=1.00, P=0.015; ß=01.01, P=0.024).

Conclusions:

The accumulation of SAAT defends against type 2 diabetes risk and potentially ectopic fat accumulation. Intra-abdominal VAT and HFF accumulation both associate with metabolic decline and BCF, while HFF predicts an even greater number of metabolic risk features.

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Acknowledgements

The project described was supported by Grant Number R01DK059211 from the National Institute of Diabetes And Digestive And Kidney Diseases. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute of Diabetes And Digestive And Kidney Diseases or the National Institutes of Health. We would like to thank all the Childhood Obesity Research Core (CORC) research team, as well as the nursing staff at the CTU. In addition, we are grateful for our study participants and their families for their involvement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive Medicine, Diabetes and Obesity Research Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    L E Gyllenhammer, T L Alderete, M Weigensberg & M I Goran

  2. Department of Public Health, California State University Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    C M Toledo-Corral

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  1. L E Gyllenhammer
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  2. T L Alderete
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  3. C M Toledo-Corral
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  5. M I Goran
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Correspondence to M I Goran.

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Gyllenhammer, L., Alderete, T., Toledo-Corral, C. et al. Saturation of subcutaneous adipose tissue expansion and accumulation of ectopic fat associated with metabolic dysfunction during late and post-pubertal growth. Int J Obes 40, 601–606 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2015.207

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