Visceral and Liver Fat Linked to Carotid Atherosclerosis, Suggests Research
Written By : Medha Baranwal
Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli
Published On 2025-10-21 14:45 GMT | Update On 2025-10-21 14:45 GMT
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Canada: Two cohort studies using MRI and ultrasound imaging have found that higher levels of visceral and liver fat are linked to carotid atherosclerosis, independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Researchers suggest that maintaining a healthy diet and managing abdominal fat may help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.
The study, published in
The researchers analyzed data from two large cohorts. In the Canadian Alliance of Healthy Hearts and Minds (CAHHM) study, 6,760 adults with an average age of 57.1 years underwent MRI to measure visceral fat volume, hepatic fat fraction, and carotid wall volume (CWV) as a marker of atherosclerosis. In the UK Biobank (UKB) cohort, 26,547 adults were assessed using ultrasound for carotid-intima media thickness (CIMT) alongside measurements of visceral and liver fat. Both cohorts included men and women, and analyses accounted for age, sex, and traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
Findings from the CAHHM cohort revealed that:
- A 1-standard deviation increase in visceral fat was associated with a 6.16 mm³ increase in carotid wall volume (CWV).
- Liver fat showed no significant association with CWV in the CAHHM cohort.
- In the UK Biobank cohort, higher visceral and liver fat were both linked to slight increases in carotid-intima media thickness (CIMT).
- These associations were weaker after adjusting for other cardiovascular risk factors.
- Pooled analyses confirmed a positive association of both visceral and hepatic fat with subclinical atherosclerosis.
- Visceral fat demonstrated a stronger link to atherosclerosis than hepatic fat.
The study highlights that visceral fat, and to a lesser extent liver fat, are important contributors to carotid artery disease. These findings suggest that interventions aimed at reducing abdominal fat may slow the progression of atherosclerosis, independent of other risk factors like high blood pressure, cholesterol, or smoking.
The authors caution that the cross-sectional design limits causal conclusions, and variations in alcohol intake, imaging methods, and measurement precision may affect results. Nonetheless, the study underscores the importance of evaluating visceral fat in cardiovascular risk management.
"Targeting visceral adiposity through diet, exercise, and lifestyle interventions may play a key role in preventing or slowing the development of atherosclerosis. While liver fat contributes to cardiovascular risk, visceral fat appears to be a stronger determinant of carotid artery health, highlighting the value of focused strategies to reduce abdominal fat for better heart and vascular outcomes," the authors concluded.
Reference:
De Souza, R. J., Pigeyre, M. E., Schulze, K. M., Lamri, A., K., B., Awadalla, P., Beyene, J., Desai, D., Despres, J., Dummer, T. J., Friedrich, M. G., Hicks, J., Ho, V., LaRose, É., Lear, S. A., Lee, D. S., Leipsic, J. A., Lettre, G., Moody, A. R., . . . Anand, S. S. (2025). Visceral adipose tissue and hepatic fat as determinants of carotid atherosclerosis. Communications Medicine, 5(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-025-01123-y
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