Relationship between visceral fat accumulation and urinary albumin-creatinine ratio in middle-aged Japanese men

Objective: Chronic kidney disease including microalbuminuria relates to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Microalbuminuria is also known to be a marker of generalized endothelial dysfunction. The metabolic syndrome which encompasses visceral fat accumulation and various metabolic disorders, has also an increase in albuminuria and relates to CVD. However, the relationship between visceral fat accumulation and albuminuria remains to be defined. The present study investigated the relationship between visceral fat accumulation and urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) in Japanese men.

Methods: This study group comprised 1990 Japanese male subjects, who were employees of a city office, had undergone annual health check-up. Urinary albumin was collected from a single spot urine specimen collected anytime between morning and afternoon. Visceral fat area was estimated (eVFA) by the bioelectrical impedance analysis method.

Results: Log-UACR correlated with age, log-body mass index (BMI), log-waist circumference (WC), log-eVFA, log-adiponectin, blood pressure, serum lipids and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Stepwise multiple regression analysis identified log-eVFA, as well as HbA1c, blood pressure, log-TG, and age, as a significant determinant of log-UACR. Moreover, subjects with eVFA > or = 100 cm(2) had significantly higher UACR than those with eVFA <100 cm(2), irrespective of BMI. UACR was significantly worse in subjects with high numbers of metabolic risk factors, and moreover in subjects with eVFA > or = 100 cm(2) than in those with eVFA <100 cm(2).

Conclusion: These results suggested that visceral fat accumulation is associated with an increase in UACR. Evaluation of both visceral fat accumulation and urinary albumin may be important for preventing atherosclerotic diseases.