The utility of visceral fat level by bioelectrical impedance analysis in the screening of metabolic syndrome- The results of the Kyushu and Okinawa population study (KOPS)

Aim: A simple, non-invasive medical device, using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) for the evaluation of visceral fat level (VFL) was developed recently. The aim of this study was to investigate the utility of VFL by BIA in the screening of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods: VFL was measured by the BIA device in 1,451 Japanese residents (546 men and 905 women, age range 30-69 years). Results: VFL had significant positive correlations with waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (r = 0.772 and 0.849, all <0.0001). The overall MetS prevalence using Japanese Diagnosis Criteria was 19.8%: men 36.3% and women 9.8%. The mean VFL of the participants with MetS was significantly higher than those without MetS (men; 12.1 and 9.4, women; 13.3 and 8.7) (both P<0.001). VFL significantly correlated with blood pressure, lipid profiles, fasting plasma glucose, and hemoglobin A1c (all P<0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for a diagnosis of two or more MetS risk factors excluding WC resulted in the same cutoff values for the VFL (10.0) of men and women. Conclusions: The VFL by BIA is useful for the detection of MetS because it is correlated with all metabolic parameters and shows the same normal limit in both sexes.