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Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI)

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By Thiruvelan, 29 August, 2023
Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI)

The visceral adiposity index (VAI) has been recognized as a reliable indicator of visceral adiposity. Also, VAI was independently positively associated with certain health conditions, such as diabetes, prediabetes, and heart disease.

What is Visceral Fat? 

Visceral fat and subcutaneous fat are two types of body fat that are stored in different parts of the body and have different effects on health. 

Visceral fat is a type of body fat that is stored within your abdominal cavity and can build up in arteries. Visceral fat is located near several vital organs, including the liver, stomach, and intestines.

Subcutaneous fat is the fat that is stored just beneath the skin and can be pinched with your fingers. It is the most common type of body fat and is generally considered less harmful. It can be found all over the body, but it is most commonly found in the thighs, hips, and buttocks.

Visceral fat is belly fat found deep within your abdominal cavity. It surrounds important organs, including your stomach, liver, and intestines. Some levels of visceral fat are healthy and help protect your organs. Too much visceral fat can lead to serious health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. 

What is the Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI)?

The Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) is a sex-specific mathematical index, based on Waist Circumference (WC), Body Mass Index (BMI), triglycerides (TG), and HDL cholesterol (HDL) levels, indirectly expressing visceral adipose function/dysfunction and insulin sensitivity/resistance. 

VAI is an indicator of visceral fat dysfunction independently associated with coronary heart disease and/or myocardial infarction and transient ischemic attack and/or ischemic stroke. 

VAI includes both physical and metabolic parameters, perhaps indirectly reflecting other nonclassical risk factors, such as altered production of adipocytokines, increased lipolysis, and plasma-free fatty acids.

Formula to calculate VAI

This index, which could be considered a simple surrogate marker of Visceral Adiposity Dysfunction (VAD), showed a strong association with both the rate of peripheral glucose utilization.

Man = [WC (cm)/39.68 + (1.88 ×BMI)] ×(TG (mmol/L)/1.03)×(1.31/HDL(mmol/L));    
Women = [WC (cm)/36.58 + 1.89 × (BMI)] × (TG (mmol/L)/0.81) × (1.52/HDL (mmol/L))

Increased visceral fat accumulation induces metabolic derangement like increased free fatty acid and pro-inflammatory cytokines, ultimately culminating in insulin resistance and poor glycemic control. A five-year prospective study conducted in Chinese T2DM adults demonstrated that Chinese VAI is a better predictor of T2DM and prediabetes.

How to use the VAI calculator?

To use the VAI calculator you need to enter your gender (sex), age, waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), triglyceride (TG), and HDL cholesterol (HDL).  Then, click “Calculate VAI”; you are provided with your visceral adipose index.

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 

Visceral Adiposity Index cutoff range

Age-stratified cut-off points of VAI for identification of adipose tissue dysfunction (ATD).

Age

ATD absent

Mild ATD

Moderate ADT

Severe ADT

< 30 years

≤2.52

2.53–2.58

2.59–2.73

>2.73

≥30 < 42 years

≤2.23

2.24–2.53

2.54–3.12

>3.12

≥42 < 52 years

≤1.92

1.93–2.16

2.17–2.77

>2.77

≥52 < 66 years

≤1.93

1.94–2.32

2.32–3.25

>3.25

≥66 years

≤2

2.01–2.41

2.42–3.17

>3.17

Optimal VAI cut-off points were: 2.52 (age < 30 years), 2.23 (age ≥ 30 and < 42 years), 1.92 (age ≥ 42 and < 52 years), 1.93 (age ≥ 52 and < 66 years), and 2.00 (age ≥ 66 years).

Ways to lower visceral adiposity index

A poor diet with a high intake of carbohydrates (sugars) and an inactive lifestyle provide the building blocks for an increase in visceral fat. However, stress is a factor too. Stress activates a hormone in your body called cortisol. More cortisol activates your body’s “fight-or-flight” response, which triggers the storage of more visceral fat.   
High fructose corn syrup is a major contributor to visceral fat; so, avail all foods that contain HFCS to lower VAI. 

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