University of Porto study links abdominal fat quality to heart disease risk

Researchers at the University of Porto Faculty of Medicine (FMUP) have discovered that the specific characteristics of abdominal fat, rather than just its quantity or location, can indicate heart artery disease risks that the Body Mass Index (BMI) fails to detect.

Led by investigator Jennifer Mancio, the study utilized radiomics and artificial intelligence to analyze CT scans from 1,736 adults. This technique acts as a virtual biopsy, allowing algorithms to extract hundreds of invisible features such as tissue density and texture. The research examined subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, and total abdominal fat.

The team identified that more heterogeneous fat textures are associated with coronary artery calcification, a marker of atherosclerosis and increased heart attack risk. The study also noted significant differences in abdominal fat structure between men and women.