J Agric Med Community Health.  2012 Dec;37(4):215-222.

Association of Hemoglobin A1c with Visceral Fat Measured by Computed Tomography in Nondiabetic Adults

• Han AL
• Shin SR
• Park SH
• Lee JM

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
A prediabetes hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level of 5.7%-6.4% is considered a risk factor for diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the USA. In this study, we assessed the HbA1c and visceral fat levels as CVD risk factors in health check-up examinees who were not yet diagnosed with diabetes.
METHODS
Totally, 507 study subject were categorized as per criteria of the American Diabetes Association, depending on whether the HbA1c level was > or =5.7% or <5.7%. Lipid levels, blood pressure, BMI (kg/m2), total abdominal, and visceral fat levels were measured by computed tomography.
RESULTS
The mean of HbA1c in the male group was larger than the mean in the female group and their values were, respectively, 6.03+/-0.8% and 5.88+/-0.72%(p<0.05). Only the mean values of age and visceral fat area were different between HbA1c> or =5.7% and <5.7% in both male and female group (p<0.05). Visceral fat levels were significantly associated with HbA1c in the group of HbA1c > or =5.7% (odds ratio=1.005, 95% CI 1.002~1.008).
CONCLUSIONS
Visceral fat levels were significantly higher and correlated with the group which HbA1c level is > or =5.7%. This finding suggests that subjects who have high levels of HbA1c should be carefully monitored during prediabetes and should have chance to have health education programs.

Keyword

Hemoglobin A1c; Visceral fat; Prediabetes

MeSH Terms

Adult
Blood Pressure
Cardiovascular Diseases
Diabetes Mellitus
Female
Health Education
Hemoglobins
Humans
Intra-Abdominal Fat
Male
Prediabetic State
Risk Factors
Hemoglobins