Objective:
We aimed to assess the utility of the 2
-
hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) value
to discriminate between different cardiometabolic profiles and examine the role of body
composition to predict
the associated increased risk for glucose impairment, beta cell dysfunction
and cardiovascular disease.
Methods:
Subjects with normal fasting glucose (NFG) completed a 2
-
h OGTT and were
categorized to
the
carbohydrate metabolism alterations (CMA) or contro
l group based upon a
2
-
h
glucose
threshold of 7.8 mmol l
-
1
. Body composition, visceral adipose tissue, OGTT
-
based
parameters and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) such
as
hypertension, dyslipidemia,
obstructive sleep apnea, non
-
alcoholic fatty liver disea
se and smoking status, were measured.
Results:
Subjects with CMA exhibited a significantly higher 1
-
h postload glucose, greater decline
in beta cell function and CVRF profile. After multivariate adjustment, excess of total body and
visceral fat was associ
ated with an increased risk of CMA,

-
cell dysfunction, CVRF and a lower
whole
-
body insulin sensitivity. Conclusions:
These data support the ethiopathogenic role of body and visceral fat in the
development of glucose derangements and CVRF early on in the metabolic dysregulation process.
Thus, body composition analysis and OGTT
assessment
performed in individuals with NFG
enables a better identification of
patients
at risk of developing
type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular
disease.