Investigating the causal associations between five anthropometric indicators and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease:Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND Although the etiology of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)has not been thoroughly understood,the emerging roles of anthropometric indicators in assessing and predicting the risk of NAFLD have been highlighted by accumulating evidence.AIM To evaluate the causal relationships between five anthropometric indicators and NAFLD employing Mendelian randomization(MR)design.METHODS The Anthropometric Consortium provided genetic exposure data for five anthropometric indicators,including hip circumference(HC),waist circumference(WC),waist-to-hip ratio(WHR),body mass index(BMI),and body fat percentage(BF).Genetic outcome data for NAFLD were obtained from the United Kingdom Biobank and FinnGen Consortium.Genome-wide significant single nucleotide polymorphisms were chosen as instrumental variables.Univariable MR(UVMR)and multivariable MR(MVMR)designs with analytical approaches,including inverse variance weighted(IVW),MR-Egger,weighted median(WM),and weighted mode methods,were used to assess the causal relationships between anthropometric indicators and NAFLD.RESULTS Causal relationships were revealed by UVMR,indicating that a higher risk of NAFLD was associated with a perunit increase in WC[IVW:odds ratio(OR)=2.67,95%CI:1.42-5.02,P=2.25×10^(−3)],and BF was causally associated with an increased risk of NAFLD(WM:OR=2.23,95%CI:1.07-4.66,P=0.033).The presence of causal effects of WC on the decreased risk of NAFLD was supported by MVMR after adjusting for BMI and smoking.However,no causal association between BF and NAFLD was observed.In addition,other causal relationships of HC,WHR(BMI adjusted),and BMI with the risk of NAFLD were not retained after FDR correction.CONCLUSION This study establishes a causal relationship,indicating that an increase in WC is associated with a higher risk of NAFLD.This demonstrates that a suitable decrease in WC is advantageous for preventing NAFLD.

Fat-to-muscle Ratio: A New Anthropometric Indicator for Predicting Metabolic Syndrome in the Han and Bouyei Populations from Guizhou Province, China

Objective To investigate the prevalence and possible factors influencing metabolic syndrome in people from Guizhou Province and to explore the predictive value of the fat-to-muscle ratio in diagnosing metabolic syndrome. Methods A multistage stratified sampling method was used in this cross-sectional study of 20-80 years old Han and Bouyei populations from Guizhou Province, southwestern China, from October-December 2012. The study included 4,553 cases of metabolic syndrome, that was defined according to 2005 International Diabetes Federation criteria. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used for determining the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive ability of the fat-to-muscle ratio for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. Results The age-standardized prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 11.38%（men： 9.76%; women： 12.72%） for Han and 4.78%（men： 4.43%; women： 5.30%） for Bouyei populations. In Guizhou Province, the cut-off value for the men fat-to-muscle ratio was 0.34, the area under the curve was 0.95, and the sensitivity and specificity were 0.94 and 0.85, respectively. The cut-off value for the women fat-to-muscle ratio was 0.55, the area under the curve was 0.91, and the sensitivity and specificity were 0.93 and 0.79, respectively. Conclusion The fat-to-muscle ratio is highly predictive of metabolic syndrome in Guizhou Province, and a useful reference indicator.

Anthropometric indices, lipid profile, and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein levels in metabolic endotoxemia: A case-control study in Calabar Metropolis, Nigeria

Objectives: To determine the anthropometric indices, lipopolysaccharide-binding proteins (LBP), and lipid profile in patients with metabolic endotoxemia. Methods: The study comprised of 47 patients with metabolic endotoxemia (the metabolic endotoxemia group) and 43 controls (the control group). Patients in the metabolic endotoxemia group were categorized further into three subgroups including the normal weight group (n=8), the overweight group (n=12) and the obese group (n=27). Height, weight, waist, and hip circumference were measured, and waist-hip ratio (WHR) and body mass index (BMI) were calculated. LBP was determined by ELISA and total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein by the respective enzymatic colorimetric methods. In addition, low density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein were determined by Friedewald's formula. Results: The mean waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), BMI, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, and LBP of the metabolic endotoxemia group were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those of the control group. WHR, TG, high density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein of the metabolic endotoxemia group were not significantly different (P>0.05) from those of the control group. The mean WC, HC, WHR, and BMI of the obese group with metabolic endotoxemia were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those of the overweight group and the normal weight group with metabolic endotoxemia. Significant positive correlations were obtained between BMI and LBP (r=0.610, P=0.001), total cholesterol and LBP (r=0.385, P=0.007), TG and LBP (r=0.356, P=0.014) in patients with metabolic endotoxemia. Conclusions: Metabolic endotoxemia arising from increased circulating level of bacterial derive particles consequent to perturbation in the gut microbial community and the elevated ;serum level of LBP may precede the development of obesity, characterized by dyslipidemia, dysregulation of gut energy harvest, and metabolic energy imbalance.

Association of obesity anthropometric indices with hypertension,diabetes mellitus and hypertriglyceridemia in apparently healthy adult Nigerian population

BACKGROUND Hypertension,hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia are chronic conditions associated with cardiometabolic diseases.Certain anthropometric indices are known to predict them.AIM To investigate the association of anthropometric indices with these chronic diseases and which anthropometric index predicts them best.METHODS In this study,221 apparently healthy individuals who never received treatments for cardiovascular disease(CVD),diabetes or other chronic diseases participated.The age of the participants ranged from 20-75 years with mean age of 36.9±11.4 years.The risk factors of these diseases namely systolic blood pressures(SBP)and diastolic blood pressures(DBP),fasting blood glucose(FBG)and triglycerides(TG)were determined for all the participants using standard clinical procedures.The obesity anthropometric indices,waist circumference,waist-to-height ratio,waist-to-hip ratio and body mass index as well as abdominal height(AH)and body surface index were determined.The association between each of them with the risk factors were determined by the Pearson correlation method.RESULTS From the results,it was found that AH showed superiority over the rest for SBP(r=0.301,P<0.01),DBP(r=0.370,P<0.01),FBG(r=0.297,P<0.01)and TG(r=0.380,P<0.01).Using the receiver operating characteristic curves,cut-off values of AH for SBP,DBP,FBG and TG were determined to be 24.75 cm,24.75 cm,25.25 cm and 24.75 cm respectively.CONCLUSION The indices of anthropometry used in this study correlated significantly with the studied CVD risk factors,with AH emerging as the most predictive.

Food Consumption Pattern, Anthropometric Indices and Health Status of Adult Women Aged 30-60 Years in Amucha Autonomous Community, Njaba L.G.A., Imo State

The study assessed the anthropometric indices and health status of adult women,aged 30-60 years in relation to their food consumption pattern.The blood sugar level,blood pressure and body mass index of the respondents were determined.A cross sectional survey was used for this study,a clustered and simple random sampling selection technique was used in selecting the samples.Anthropometric indices of weight and height were used to assess the body mass index(BMI),while waist hip ratio(WHR)was used to check for abdominal obesity.Women were considered overweight using world health organization standard(BMI at or above 25),or WHR above 0.85.Health status was assessed by checking blood pressure and blood sugar levels.Blood pressure was taken twice using Omron sphygmomanometer with appropriate cuff off size and women were classified hypertensive if having a mean blood pressure above 120/80 mmHg.Evolve glucometer was used to check for random blood sugar(RBS)levels,respondents were considered diabetics if they have a random sugar above 140 mg/dL.Food frequency table was used to assess food consumption pattern.Respondents were said to have low consumption if consumed the food 1-3 times per week or if rarely or never consumed.It is moderate if consumed 4-6 times per week and high,if consumed 7 times per week,or daily.Questionnaire covered relevant data such as personal data,demographic data.Result showed that the women mean standard deviations for body mass index(BMI),waist hip ratio(WHR),random blood sugar(RBS),systolic blood pressure(SBP)and diastolic blood pressure(DBP)were 26.29±4.1,0.86±0.34,112.51±23.0,115.4±23.0 and 88.45±4.3 respectively.The mean value for BMI was on the overweight region.Bivariate correlation analysis showed that SBP,DBP,RBS and WHR had positive correlation with BMI with confidence level set at 0.05%(0.206,p=0.005;0.16,p=0.031;0.081,p=0.0021 and 0.148,p=0.000 respectively).WHR also had stronger correlation with RBS(0.90,p=0.278),systolic(0.272,p=0.002),diastolic(0.21,p=0.045).This confirms the assertion that WHR should be used as an indicator of cardiovascular disease not BMI.The survey also reveals that 3.6%were underweight.49.0%normal,29.9%overweight and 17.5%obese.Blood pressure levels were marginal as 30.04%,35.4%,34.3%are normal,pre hypertensive and hypertensive respectively.Most of the respondents had normal blood sugar as 91.2%were normal.Overweight,hypertension and diabetes were prevalent in rural communities as observed in this study.There is a need for routine check of WHR among women in clinical practice and epidemiological surveys,to reduce incidence of cardiovascular diseases.There is a need for promotion of a healthy life style,regular exercise and proper nutrition.

A Study of Anthropometric Indices among Pupils in Rural Communities around Kainji Dam, Niger State

The physical and mental development of pupils could be arrested by inadequate food intake and infection with immediate and long term consequences. This has implications on decreased school performances, lower intelligent quotient levels, poor psychosocial development, and decreased cognitive functions. This study assessed the growth and body fat distribution among pupils aged 5 - 19 years. A cross-sectional study was conducted among pupils from five primary schools in different communities around Kainji Dam. This assessment was based on a comparison with reference standards set by the World Health Organization to determine their deviations. A qualified registered nurse carried out physical measurements to obtain age, height, and body weight using electronic weighing scale and stadiometer. Data were analyzed using Anthroplusv1.0.4 software. The overall prevalence of stunting was 21.5% with 8% being severely stunted. The prevalence of thinness was 35.2% with 11.2% being wasted while the overall prevalence of underweight was not calculated for children > 10 years old. The prevalence of underweight for 5 - 10 years old children was 16.9% with 2.4% being severely underweight. The curves for both male and female children deviated from normal distribution. Females have higher percentage of stunting than males. This study revealed a high prevalence of thinness and stunting which is the consequence of poor nutrition arising from multifaceted and interrelated circumstances such as poor feeding, eating practices and repeated infection. Intervention such as Home Grown School Feeding Programme of the Government is a right step in improving the nutritional status of pupils in rural communities.

Physiological, Anatomical, Psychological and Cultural-Ethnic Aspects of Indian Students Adaptation during Study in Kyrgyzstan Medical Universities

This article is investigating the comparative analysis of anatomical, physiological, and psycho-emotional adaptation indicators of 100 male and 100 female first-year students of the international medical faculty in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Control groups have consisted of 100 male and 100 female local students of the same age, residing in the Osh city and region. Anthropometry is determined by 50 indicators, such as bio-impedance analysis of body composition, functional tests with exercise, and breathe holding. In addition, the girls underwent an assessment of sexual development according to Tyner. The psychological state was assessed using the Lüschers color test and Spielberger’s questionnaire. The features of anthropometric indicators for students from India are shown as a shorter length of the body, shoulder, and legs, greater waist coverage, an increase in the thickness of the skin folds of the abdomen, increased fat mass and delayed sexual development, anxiety, frequent and longer colds. Functional tests for breath holding and physical activity revealed less reserve capacity in foreign students. This requires the development of rehabilitation programs for foreign students, starting from the first year.

Effect of bariatric surgery on adiposity and metabolic profiles: A prospective cohort study in Middle-Eastern patients

AIM To investigate changes in adiposity and cardio-metabolic risk profile following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in patients of Middle Eastern ethnicity with severe obesity.METHODS This prospective cohort study involved 92 patients who met the indications of bariatric surgery. Post-procedure markers of obesity and cardiometabolic profile were monitored regularly for a year.RESULTS Mean body mass index decreased by 29.5% from 41.9 to 29.5 kg/m^2 between baseline and 12-mo follow-up, while mean fat mass decreased by 45.9% from 64.2 kg to 34.7 kg. An improvement was also observed in the glucometabolic profile with both fasting glucose and HbA 1csubstantially decreasing(P < 0.001).CONCLUSION The present study shows the short to medium term(1 year) health benefits of bariatric surgery for patients of Middle Eastern ethnicity.