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. 2022 Sep;34(9):2177-2183.
doi: 10.1007/s40520-022-02168-y. Epub 2022 Aug 6.

The association between visceral adiposity index and leukocyte telomere length in adults: results from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Yifan Fan  1 , Yulin Guo  2 , Jiuchang Zhong  1 , Hongjie Chi  1 , Xiaotao Zhao  1 , Pixiong Su  2 , Jie Gao  3 , Mulei Chen  4
Affiliations

The association between visceral adiposity index and leukocyte telomere length in adults: results from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Yifan Fan et al. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2022 Sep.

Abstract

Background: Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is a robust marker of biological aging, which is associated with obesity. Recently, the visceral adiposity index (VAI) has been proposed as an indicator of adipose distribution and function.

Objective: To evaluated the association between VAI and LTL in adult Americans.

Methods: There were 3193 participants in U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (1999-2002) included in this analysis. LTL was measured using quantitative PCR (qPCR) and expressed as telomere to single-gene copy ratio (T/S ratio). We performed multiple logistic regression models to explore the association between VAI and LTL by adjusting for potential confounders.

Results: Among all participants, VAI was associated with the shorter LTL (β: - 14.81, 95% CI - 22.28 to - 7.34, p < 0.001). There were significant differences of LTL in VAI tertiles (p < 0.001). Participants in the higher VAI tertile had the shorter LTL (1.26 ≤ VAI < 2.46: β = - 130.16, 95% CI [ - 183.44, - 76.87]; VAI ≥ 2.46: β = - 216.12, 95% CI [ - 216.12, - 81.42], p for trend: < 0.001) comparing with the lower VAI tertile. We also found a non-linear relationship between VAI and LTL. VAI was negatively correlated with LTL when VAI was less than 2.84.

Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that VAI is independently associated with telomere length. A higher VAI is associated with shorter LTL. The results suggest that VAI may provide prediction for LTL and account for accelerating the biological aging.

Keywords: Adiposity; Aging; Leukocyte telomere length; Visceral adiposity index.

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