Determining Cut-off Points for Visceral Adipose Tissue to Identify Metabolic Health, Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Syndrome in Menacme Women in a Stratified Sample from the Southeast Region of Brazil

• Grant number: 24/23104-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: October 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nutrition - Nutritional Analysis of Population
• Principal Investigator: Ana Carolina Junqueira Vasques
• Grantee: Laura Ramos Gonçalves
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/05504-6 - Brown adipose tissue and associated metabolites in women with different adiposity phenotypes and metabolic health., AP.R

Abstract

Background: Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) accumulation is linked to the development of Metabolic Syndrome (MS), especially among women. At the same amount of VAT, women have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes than men, and the accumulation of this tissue in them during the menacme phase is associated with a higher risk of health problems. However, there is a lack of data in the literature on VAT thresholds associated with the presence or absence of metabolic health in Brazilian women, whose ethnic and sociodemographic peculiarities may have an impact on fat distribution and disease risk. Objective: to establish cut-off points for VAT associated with the presence of metabolic health, insulin resistance (IR) and MS in menacme women. Materials and methods: a cross-sectional study that will include the assessment of 500 women. Previously collected data will be used (n = 460) and new evaluations will be included to ensure distribution of body mass index (BMI) ranges similar to those of the adult female Brazilian population (Vigitel 2023). Anthropometric indicators (BMI and waist circumference), body composition (by DXA) and biochemical parameters (glycemic profile, lipid profile and HOMA-IR) will be analyzed. ROC analysis will be used to identify thresholds and multivariate regression models to test associations adjusted for confounding factors. Prospects: This study will provide the first cut-off points for VAT associated with metabolic health in Brazilian women at menacme. The findings could improve cardiometabolic risk stratification and support clinical and public health guidelines, favoring prevention and diagnosis, and contributing to scientific data on the population's health and nutritional status. It will also enable longitudinal studies and personalized interventions.