Central obesity and coronary heart disease risk factors in referral outpatients to zahedan cardiology clinic, iran

CT-based Abdominal Adipose Tissue Area Changes in Patients Undergoing Adrenalectomy Due to Cushing's Syndrome and Non-functioning Adenomas

BACKGROUND

The majority of Cushing's syndrome (CS) cases constitute patients with functional adrenal adenomas. In adrenal CS, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) area, VAT/subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and VAT/total adipose tissue (TAT) ratios are expected to decrease in response to adrenalectomy, although no change is expected in non-functioning adrenal adenomas (NFA).

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the changes in VAT, SAT, TAT areas and VAT/SAT, VAT/TAT ratios using computed tomography (CT) in patients who underwent adrenalectomy due to adenomas.

METHODS

Preoperative and postoperative CT of 32 patients (16 with CS and 16 with NFA) were retrospectively evaluated. The VAT, SAT, TAT areas were obtained from CT at the level of L1-2 intervertebral disc space, and the VAT/SAT, VAT/TAT ratios were calculated. The postoperative parameter changes in both groups were evaluated compared to the preoperative values. The level of statistical significance was considered as p<0.05.

RESULTS

The time interval between preoperative and postoperative CT measurements were 10.37 months (6-17) in CS and 9.75 months (7-15) in NFA groups (p=073). Preoperative CT indicated that the patients with CS had larger VAT and TAT areas (p=0.03, p=0.02) but SAT remained unchanged (p=0.08). However, postoperative CT revealed that there was no difference between the two groups in terms of VAT, TAT, and SAT areas (p=0.87, p=0.36, p=0.14). Postoperatively, in patients with CS, there was a decrease in VAT and TAT areas (p=0.01 for both) and VAT/SAT and VAT/TAT ratios (p=0.03, p=0.02) but SAT remained unchanged (p=0.10). In patients with NFA, no change was detected in the postoperative SAT, TAT, and VAT areas (p=0.12, p=0.40, p=0.99) or the VAT/SAT and VAT/TAT ratios (p=0.38, p=0.62).

CONCLUSIONS

Adrenalectomy is an effective treatment method leading to a decrease in the VAT, TAT areas, and VAT/SAT and VAT/TAT ratios in patients with cortisol producing adrenocortical adenoma. Thus, CT facilitates quantitative demonstration of the changes while evaluating the response of these patients to treatment.

Discretionary food and beverage consumption and its association with demographic characteristics, weight status, and fruit and vegetable intakes in Australian adults

OBJECTIVE

Excessive consumption of discretionary foods/beverages in the Australian population has been identified, increasing the risk of obesity and chronic disease. The present study aimed to examine the associations between demographic, anthropometric and dietary factors and the consumption of discretionary foods, discretionary beverages and discretionary foods/beverages combined.

DESIGN

Discretionary food/beverage consumption reported in two 24 h recalls was analysed, stratified by gender, age, socio-economic status, country of birth, BMI, waist circumference, and fruit and vegetable intakes.

SETTING

2011-12 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey.

SUBJECTS

Australian adults (n 7873) aged 19 years or above.

RESULTS

Mean discretionary food and beverage consumption was 631 g (28 % by weight from foods; 72 % from beverages), providing 2721 kJ of energy intake (72 % from foods; 28 % from beverages). Total discretionary food/beverage consumption was higher in younger age groups (P<0·001), those in lower socio-economic categories (P<0·001), those born in Australia (P<0·001), those with higher BMI (P<0·001) and those with lower fruit (P<0·001) or vegetable intake (P<0·001). Discretionary beverage consumption (β=6·6, P<0·001) was more strongly associated with BMI than discretionary food consumption (β=0·5, P=0·01).

CONCLUSIONS

Total discretionary food/beverage consumption as well as discretionary foods alone and discretionary beverages alone were associated with BMI in Australian adults. In addition, high intakes were associated with younger age, lower socio-economic status, and lower consumption of fruit and vegetables.