Systemic oxidative stress is associated with visceral fat accumulation and the metabolic syndrome

Background The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a major target for prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases and visceral fat accumulation is an underlying component of MetS. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of systemic oxidative stress with visceral fat accumulation and MetS. Methods and Results The study group consisted of Japanese men (n=44; 51.2 11.4 years) and women (n=61; 55.4 +/- 13.4 years). Urinary 8-epi-prostagiandin F2 alpha (8-epi-PGF2 alpha) concentration, a biomarker of systemic oxidative stress, was significantly high in the subjects with MetS. As the urinary concentration of 8-epi-PGF2 alpha increased, the number of criteria for MetS were significantly met (abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, hypertension, and high fasting glucose). Among parameters associated with MetS, the correlation coefficient of visceral fat area (VFA) with urinary 8-epi-PGF2 alpha concentration was the highest (r=0.636, p < 0.0001). In non-obese subjects, the correlation coefficient of VFA with urinary 8-epi-PGF2 alpha concentration was higher (r=0.728, p < 0.0001), although there was no significant correlation between subcutaneous fat area and urinary 8-epi-PGF2 alpha. Stepwise multiple regression analysis identified VFA as the strongest and independent determinant of urinary 8-epi-PGF2 alpha (p < 0.0001) followed by adiponectin (p=0.0212) and, high sensitive C-reactive protein (p=0.0365). Conclusions Systemic oxidative stress, as measured by urinary 8-epi-PGF2 alpha, is strongly associated with visceral fat accumulation and MetS.