OBJECTIVE: Many factors influence male sexual function, including metabolic disorders such as metabolic syndrome (MetS). We aimed to investigate the effects of two metabolic indices, the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and the visceral adiposity index (VAI), on male sexual function.
METHODS: A total of 400 men having sexual dysfunction were included. Anthropological data, comorbidities were recorded. Serum total testosterone, prolactin, and estradiol levels were recorded. Sex-specific VAI was calculated using the [(WC/39.68) + (1.88xMI)] × (TG/1.03) × (1.31/HDL) formula and using Ln (fasting triglycerides) × (fasting glucose)/2] formula, TyG index was calculated. Turkish-validated 15-item long-form of the International Index of Erectile Dysfunction (IIEF) questionnaire and male sexual health questionnaire (MSHQ) were used for erectile function and ejaculatory function, respectively. The ROC analysis was used to evaluate the predictive abilities of TyG and VAI cut-off values for ED risk.
RESULTS: A higher TyG index and VAI were associated with an increased risk of ED. The presence of MetS further worsened sexual function, with lower scores in sexual satisfaction, orgasm, desire, and general satisfaction. The TyG index and VAI showed similar predictive abilities for ED. Patients with MetS had worse ejaculation quality compared to those without MetS.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the potential of the TyG index and VAI as convenient tools for predicting and assessing sexual dysfunction in men, particularly in the context of metabolic disorders. Early detection and intervention for metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance may help to mitigate their negative impact on male sexual function.

UNASSIGNED: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women are at risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome (MetS) due to insulin resistance (IR) and hyperandrogenism (HA). Both visceral adiposity index (VAI) and lipid accumulation product (LAP) are simple outpatient department-based metric tools that have been introduced to screen PCOS women who are metabolically unhealthy and are at risk of development of MetS.
UNASSIGNED: The aim of the study was to evaluate VAI and LAP in women with PCOS and to correlate them with metabolic and endocrine markers. The study also assessed these parameters amongst different PCOS phenotypes and determined their usefulness to define metabolically healthy PCOS (MH-PCOS) and metabolically unhealthy PCOS (MU-PCOS).
UNASSIGNED: The design of the study was a cross-sectional study.
UNASSIGNED: Two hundred PCOS women were included in the study, and all the clinical, anthropometric, hormonal, biochemical and metabolic markers were assessed. The cohort was divided into MH-PCOS and MU-PCOS by the modified National Cholesterol Education Programme criteria. VAI and LAP were calculated and correlated with clinical, endocrine and metabolic parameters.
UNASSIGNED: Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to study the independent role of VAI and LAP to predict MetS. Adjusted and unadjusted odds ratios were calculated. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was done to define cut-offs in Asian Indian women.
UNASSIGNED: VAI and LAP had good ability to correctly discriminate MU-PCOS from MH-PCOS (area under the curve [AUC] [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 0.89 [0.82-0.95]) and (AUC [95% CI [0.81-0.92] =0.86) using ROC, respectively. The sensitivity of VAI and LAP corresponding to the optimal cut-off of ≥2.76 and ≥48.06 (Youden) was 84.09% and 79.55%, respectively. Similarly, the specificity of VAI and LAP was 85.26% and 79.49%, respectively. VAI has a positive predictive value of 61.7% (95% CI [23.7%-40.3%]) and a negative predictive value of 95% (95% CI [88%-99.1%]). LAP has a positive predictive value of 53% (95% CI [40.3%-65.4%]) and a negative predictive value of 93.3% (95% CI [87.6%-96.9%]). PCOS women having VAI ≥ 2.76 had 19.3 times ([95% CI: 6.50-57.70]) more chance of developing MetS. PCOS women having LAP (≥48.06) have 3.7 times ([95% CI: 1.35-10.60]) more odds. There was no difference between ROC curves of VAI and LAP (P = 0.32).
UNASSIGNED: VAI cut-off ≥ 2.76 and LAP with a cut-off of ≥ 48.06 may be used as markers for predicting MetS amongst PCOS women.

BACKGROUND: Obesity and hypertension are major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases that affect millions of people worldwide. Both conditions are associated with chronic low-grade inflammation, which is mediated by adipokines such as adiponectin. Adiponectin is the most abundant adipokine that has a beneficial impact on metabolic and vascular biology, while high serum concentrations are associated with some syndromes. This \"adiponectin paradox\" still needs to be clarified in obesity-associated hypertension. The aim of this study was to investigate how adiponectin affects blood pressure, inflammation, and metabolic function in obesity hypertension using a Chinese adult case-control study.
METHODS: A case-control study that had finished recruiting 153 subjects divided as four characteristic groups. Adiponectin serum levels were tested by ELISA in these subjects among these four characteristic Chinese adult physical examination groups. Waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SB), diastolic blood pressure (DB), and other clinical laboratory data were collected. Analyzation of correlations between the research index and differences between groups was done by SPSS.
RESULTS: Serum adiponectin levels in the| normal healthy group (NH group) were significantly higher than those in the newly diagnosed untreated just-obesity group (JO group), and negatively correlated with the visceral adiposity index. With multiple linear egression analysis, it was found that, for serum adiponectin, gender, serum albumin (ALB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) were the significant independent correlates, and for SB, age and HDLC were the significant independent correlates, and for DB, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was the significant independent correlate. The other variables did not reach significance in the model.
CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals that adiponectin\'s role in obesity-hypertension is multifaceted and is influenced by the systemic metabolic homeostasis signaling axis. In obesity-related hypertension, compensatory effects, adiponectin resistance, and reduced adiponectin clearance from impaired kidneys and liver all contribute to the \"adiponectin paradox\".

UNASSIGNED: Cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) has emerged as a prominent public health concern. Hypertensive patients are prone to develop comorbidities. Moreover, the accumulation of visceral adipose tissue is the main cause for the development of cardiometabolic diseases. The cardiometabolic index (CMI), lipid accumulation product (LAP), visceral adiposity index (VAI), and Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI) not only assess adipose tissue mass but also reflect adipose tissue dysfunction. So far, no study has been reported to evaluate the association of CMI, LAP, VAI, and CVAI with CMM risk in hypertensive patients. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the association between these adiposity indicators and the risk of CMM among Chinese hypertensive patients.
UNASSIGNED: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 229,287 hypertensive patients aged 35 years and older were included from the National Basic Public Health Service Project. All participants underwent a face-to-face questionnaire survey, physical examination, and the collection of fasting venous blood samples. Multivariable logistic regression models were performed to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Receiver operating characteristic curve was utilized to evaluate the identification ability for CMM.
UNASSIGNED: After adjusting for confounders, each 1-standard deviation increase in CMI, LAP, VAI, and CVAI was associated with a 14%, 8%, 12%, and 54% increased risk of CMM, respectively. When comparing the highest quartile of these indicators with the lowest quartile, individuals in the highest quartile of CMM, LAP, VAI, and CVAI had a 1.39-fold (95% CI 1.30, 1.48), 1.28-fold (95% CI 1.19, 1.37), 1.37-fold (95% CI 1.29, 1.46), and 2.56-fold (95% CI 2.34, 2.79) increased risk of CMM after adjusting for potential confounders. Notably, a nonlinear association was observed for CMI, LAP, and VAI with the risk of CMM (all P nonlinearity < 0.001). CVAI exhibited the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) among all the included adiposity indices in this analysis.
UNASSIGNED: This study indicated the significant positive association of CMI, LAP, VAI, and CVAI with the risk of CMM in hypertensive patients. Among these indicators, CVAI demonstrated the most robust performance in predicting CMM risk and may serve as a valuable tool for identifying CMM risk in Chinese hypertensive patients.

BACKGROUND: Visceral adipose tissue plays an active role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and vascular dysfunction. The lipid accumulation product (LAP), visceral adiposity index (VAI), and Chinese VAI (CVAI) have been proposed as simple and validated surrogate indices for measuring visceral adipose tissue. However, the evidence from prospective studies on the associations between these novel indices of visceral obesity and diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains scant.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the longitudinal associations of LAP, VAI, and CVAI with incident DR in Chinese patients with diabetes.
METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study conducted in Guangzhou in southern China. We collected baseline data between November 2017 and July 2020, while on-site follow-up visits were conducted annually until January 2022. The study participants consisted of 1403 patients with a clinical diagnosis of diabetes, referred from primary care, who were free of DR at baseline. The LAP, VAI, and CVAI levels were calculated by sex-specific equations based on anthropometric and biochemical parameters. DR was assessed using 7-field color stereoscopic fundus photographs and graded according to the modified Airlie House Classification scheme. Time-dependent Cox proportional hazard models were constructed to estimate the hazard ratios with 95% CIs. Restricted cubic spline curves were fitted to examine the dose-response relationship between the 3 indices of visceral obesity and new-onset DR. Subgroup analyses were performed to investigate the potential effect modifiers.
RESULTS: The mean age of study participants was 64.5 (SD 7.6) years, and over half (816/1403, 58.2%) were female. During a median follow-up of 2.13 years, 406 DR events were observed. A 1-SD increment in LAP, VAI, or CVAI was consistently associated with increased risk for new-onset DR, with a multivariable‑adjusted hazard ratio of 1.24 (95% CI 1.09-1.41; P=.001), 1.22 (95% CI 1.09-1.36; P<.001), and 1.48 (95% CI 1.19-1.85; P=.001), respectively. Similar patterns were observed across tertiles in LAP (P for trend=.001), VAI (P for trend<.001), and CVAI (P for trend=.009). Patients in the highest tertile of LAP, VAI, and CVAI had an 84%, 86%, and 82% higher hazard of DR, respectively, compared to those in the lowest tertile. A nonlinear dose-response relationship with incident DR was noted for LAP and VAI (both P for nonlinearity<.05), but not for CVAI (P for nonlinearity=.51). We did not detect the presence of effect modification by age, sex, duration of diabetes, BMI, or comorbidity (all P for interaction>.10).
CONCLUSIONS: Visceral obesity, as measured by LAP, VAI, or CVAI, is independently associated with increased risk for new-onset DR in Chinese patients with diabetes. Our findings may suggest the necessity of incorporating regular monitoring of visceral obesity indices into routine clinical practice to enhance population-based prevention for DR.

There is insufficient attention to hypogonadism in Chinese males with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We evaluated the relationship between Combined obesity- and lipid-related indices [Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI), Chinese Visceral Adiposity Index (CVAI), Triglyceride Glucose Index (TyG) and Lipid Accumulation Product (LAP)] with total testosterone (TT) and analyzed the predictive capability of the respective cut-off values.
We recruited 958 hospitalized male patients with T2DM at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, collected baseline data and four calculated indices, and obtained their dominance ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) with TT by multivariate logistic regression. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were then used to determine cutoff values in predicting hypogonadism (TT< 12 nmol/L), and we also analyzed the combinations between the different indices.
VAI, CVAI, TyG, and LAP all have satisfactory predictive capabilities. The test capability (sensitivity and specificity) of all four indices was better or not worse than that of body mass index (BMI), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and waist circumference (WC). All four indices were effective predictors of hypogonadism at their respective cutoff values (VAI ≥ 2.284, CVAI ≥ 145.779, TyG ≥ 4.308, and LAP ≥ 59.850). Of these, LAP had the largest area under the curve (AUC, AUC = 0.852, Std. Error = 0.014, 95% CI = 0.818-0.873). However, the predictive capability of the combined indices was not significantly improved over the individual indices.
VAI, CVAI, TyG, and LAP are sensitive indices for predicting hypogonadism in Chinese male patients with T2DM. Considering the need for concise and accurate indices in clinical practice, we suggest LAP as a commonly used index.

The association of prediabetes (Pre-DM) regression and progression with visceral adiposity index (VAI) and adipose tissue dysfunction (ATD) remains to be investigated.
The present cohort study was conducted within the framework of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS) on 1458 Pre-DM cases (aged ≥ 21 years) who were followed for nine years. VAI was estimated based on waist circumference, body mass index, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. ATD status (i.e., absent, mild-moderate, and severe) was defined based on the age-stratified cutoff values of VAI. Multinomial logistic regression models with adjustment of potential confounders were used to estimate the chance of Pre-DM regression to normoglycemia or progression to T2D across ATD status.
During the study follow-up, 39.0% of the participants developed T2D, and 37.7% returned to normoglycemia. Compared to mild-moderate ATD, Pre-DM subjects with severe ATD had a higher risk of developing T2D by 45% (OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 11.08-1.93). Severe ATD was also associated with a decreased chance of returning to normoglycemia by 26% (OR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.55-0.99). Participants with severe ATD had significantly higher fasting (overall mean = 111, 95% CI = 109-112 vs. 106, 95% CI = 105-108 mg/dL) and 2h-serum glucose (overall mean = 165, 95% CI = 161-168 vs. 153, 95% CI = 149-156 mg/dL) concentrations over time.
Severe ATD was associated with an elevated risk of developing T2D and longitudinal poor-glycemic controls in Pre-DM subjects. ATD may be a simple and useful index for detecting subjects at a higher risk of Pre-DM progression to T2D, allowing for timely intervention strategies.

The risk of visceral obesity on erectile function has recently attracted much attention. The visceral adiposity index (VAI) is a brief and reliable indicator of visceral obesity measurement. Nevertheless, the association between VAI and erectile dysfunction (ED) is not completely clarified.
Data from NHANES 2001-2004 were enrolled in this study. Erectile function was assessed by a database-self-administered questionnaire. VAI was calculated with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), triglyceride (TG), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. The weighted logistic regression model was performed to evaluate the association between VAI and ED.
Ultimately, 3380 participants were enrolled in the study, including 900 with ED and 2480 without ED. Compared to participants without ED, those with ED generally had higher levels of VAI (1.76 vs. 1.53). The weighted logistic regression analyses demonstrated increased odds of developing ED in participants within the 4th quartile (Q4) of VAI compared to the 1st quartile (Q1) of VAI (OR = 2.023; 95% CI, 1.534-2.669; P < 0.001). Similar results were still obtained after adjusting for the relevant covariates (OR = 1.404; 95% CI, 1.008-1.954; P = 0.044). In subgroup analyses grouped by smoking status, higher VAI was associated with increased odds of developing ED only in the current smoking group (OR = 1.092; 95% CI, 1.021-1.167; P = 0.010).
This study indicated that higher VAI is independently related to ED risk and that early intervention is necessary to reduce the progression of ED with high VAI levels.

BACKGROUND: Visceral adiposity index (VAI) and lipid accumulation product (LAP) are comprehensive indicators to evaluate visceral fat and determine the metabolic health of individuals. Carotenoids are a group of naturally occurring antioxidants associated with several diseases. The purpose of this investigation was to explore the association between serum carotenoid concentration and VAI or LAP.
METHODS: The data were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2001 and 2006. The levels of serum carotenoids were evaluated using high-performance liquid chromatography. Multivariate linear regression models were employed to investigate the relationship between levels of serum carotenoids and VAI or LAP. The potential non-linear relationship was determined using threshold effect analysis and fitted smoothing curves. Stratification analysis was performed to investigate the potential modifying factors.
RESULTS: In total, 5,084 participants were included in this population-based investigation. In the multivariate linear regressions, compared to the lowest quartiles of serum carotenoids, the highest quartiles were significantly associated with VAI, and the effect size (β) and 95% CI was - 0.98 (- 1.34, - 0.62) for α-carotene, - 1.39 (- 1.77, - 1.00) for β-carotene, - 0.79 (- 1.18, - 0.41) for β-cryptoxanthin, - 0.68 (- 0.96, - 0.39) for lutein/zeaxanthin, and - 0.88 (- 1.50, - 0.27) for trans-lycopene. Using piece-wise linear regression models, non-linear relationships were found between β-carotene and trans-lycopene and VAI with an inflection point of 2.44 (log2-transformed, ug/dL) and 3.80 (log2-transformed, ug/dL), respectively. The results indicated that α-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, and lutein/zeaxanthin were linearly associated with VAI. An inverse association was also found between serum carotenoids and LAP after complete adjustments.
CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that several serum carotenoids were associated with VAI or LAP among the general American population. Further large prospective investigations are warranted to support this finding.

UNASSIGNED: The visceral adiposity index (VAI) is a marker of abdominal fat distribution and adipose tissue function. However, the association between VAI and femur bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporosis is unclear among the U.S. older adults.
UNASSIGNED: Cross-sectional data for adults aged 60 years and older from the 2007-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were included. Multivariable linear and logistic regression were used to evaluate the association between VAI and femur BMD and osteoporosis. We used the smooth curve fitting to address nonlinearity. Moreover, a two-piecewise linear regression model was used to explain the nonlinearity further.
UNASSIGNED: The findings of the multivariable logistic regression models showed that as the VAI value increased by one unit, the prevalence of osteoporosis decreased by 1.2% after adjusting for covariates associated with osteoporosis. The multivariable linear regression models demonstrated that VAI was positively correlated with femur BMD. Further analysis revealed an inverted L-shaped and inverted U-shaped relationship between VAI and femur BMD at different sites.
UNASSIGNED: Our findings indicated that an increased VAI is independently linked to a higher prevalence of osteoporosis among the U.S. older adults. Further analysis reveals that once VAI reaches a certain threshold, femur BMD no longer increases and may even decrease. This suggests that a moderate accumulation of visceral fat may be beneficial for bone health, while excessive visceral fat could potentially have detrimental effects.