Adipose tissue R2* signal is increased in subjects with obesity: A preliminary MRI study.

Abstract

Circulating and adipose tissue markers of iron overload are increased in subjects with obesity. The aim is to study iron signals in adipose tissue. Adipose tissue R2* values and hepatic iron concentration (HIC) were evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 23 middle-aged subjects with obesity and 20 subjects without obesity. Subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) R2* were increased in subjects with obesity (P = 0.004 and P = 0.008) and correlated significantly and positively with HIC in all subjects. Strikingly, most of the associations of liver iron with metabolic parameters were replicated with SAT and VAT R2*. BMI, waist circumference, fat mass, HOMA value, and C-reactive protein positively correlated with HIC and SAT and VAT R2*. BMI or percent fat mass (but not insulin resistance) contributed independently to 26.8-34.8% of the variance in sex- and age-adjusted SAT or VAT R2* (β > 0.40, P < 0.005). Within subjects with obesity, total cholesterol independently contributed to 14.8% of sex- and age-adjusted VAT iron variance (β = 0.50, P = 0.025). Increased R2* in adipose tissue, which might indicate iron content, runs in parallel to liver iron stores of subjects with obesity. VAT iron seems also associated with serum cholesterol within subjects with obesity.