Visceral adipose tissue normative values in adults from the United States using GE Lunar iDXA.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional observational study establishing normative reference percentiles
PubMed 31449721 · doi:10.1111/cpf.12593
What was done
A cross-sectional study evaluated 649 US adults (351 males, mean age 33.2 +- 17.4 years, BMI 26.5 +- 5.4 kg/m2; 298 females, mean age 28.5 +- 14.3 years, BMI 25.8 +- 6.9 kg/m2). Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) mass in kg and volume in cm3 were quantified from total body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans using GE Lunar iDXA software-delineated regions of interest. Non-linear regression evaluated the relationship between VAT and age, and normative percentiles were calculated for four age cohorts (18-19, 20-24, 25-49, and 50+ years) for males and females.
What was found
In both males and females, there was a positive, non-linear relationship between VAT and age (R2 = 0.47-0.49, P < 0.0001). The 50th percentile for VAT mass and volume in males was: 18-19 years (0.18 kg, 185.67 cm3), 20-24 years (0.25 kg, 261.21 cm3), 25-49 years (0.71 kg, 746.27 cm3), and 50+ years (1.62 kg, 1708.36 cm3). In females, the 50th percentile was: 18-19 years (0.04 kg, 44.90 cm3), 20-24 years (0.06 kg, 59.57 cm3), 25-49 years (0.55 kg, 579.28 cm3), and 50+ years (1.21 kg, 1284.59 cm3).
Why it matters
This study provides age- and sex-stratified reference percentiles for visceral adipose tissue mass and volume measured with GE Lunar iDXA in US adults. These norms assist in contextualizing individual visceral fat measurements against age- and sex-matched peers.
Limits
The cross-sectional design cannot measure longitudinal age-related changes within individuals. The sample was relatively young with mean ages of 33.2 and 28.5 years, which may limit representation in older age strata. The normative data are specific to the GE Lunar iDXA device and software and may not apply to other DXA systems or imaging modalities. The abstract does not provide details on participant health status, race, or ethnicity.
Cited by
- supports Average visceral fat increases with age, measuring roughly 1.2 pounds in men and 0.5 pounds in women at age 30, 1.7 pounds in men and 0.7 pounds in women at age 40, 2.2 pounds in men and 1.0 pound in women at age 50, and 2.7 pounds in men and 1.54 pounds in women at age 60.