Liver fat in obesity: role of type 2 diabetes mellitus and adipose tissue distribution

Abstract

Background: Fatty liver is commonly associated with insulin-resistant conditions, often related to increased abdominal visceral fat. Our objective was to elucidate the specific roles of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, insulin-resistance and abdominal fat distribution.

Materials and methods: The study population comprised 13 diabetic obese (DO), 10 nondiabetic obese (NDO), and nine normal-weight control (C) men aged 28-65 years, with normal plasma triglyceride levels. DO were in good glycaemic control (HbA1c = 6·8 ± 0·8%) (M ± SD) with diet (n = 8) or diet + metformin (n = 5). Liver fat content was measured by (1) H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy, abdominal fat distribution by magnetic resonance imaging and insulin sensitivity by hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp.

Results: DO and NDO subjects had similar whole-body insulin resistance, BMI and waist circumference, higher than those of C subjects (P < 0·001). DO had more liver fat (11·9 ± 7·0%) than NDO (5·2 ± 2·8%, P < 0·05) and C (1·6 ± 1·0%, P < 0·001). Abdominal fat was greater in DO and NDO than in C (visceral: DO 3184 ± 843, NDO 2843 ± 1378 vs. C 1212 ± 587 cm(3), P < 0·001; subcutaneous: DO 4029 ± 362, NDO 5197 ± 1398 vs. C 2312 ± 626 cm(3), P < 0·001), visceral fat being not significantly different between the two obese groups, and subcutaneous fat significantly less in DO than in NDO (P < 0·05).

Conclusions: Type 2 diabetes is associated with increased fat accumulation in the liver, independent of obesity and whole-body insulin resistance. The increased liver fat in DO patients may be part of an altered regional fat distribution that includes an inadequate subcutaneous fat storing capacity, rather than simply being a consequence of increased abdominal visceral content.