Inverse association of plasma hydrogen sulfide levels with visceral fat area among Chinese young men: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between plasma Hydrogen Sulfide (H(2)S) levels and visceral fat area (VFA) among Chinese young men. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 156 Chinese male subjects, aged 18–45 years, who visited the First Hospital of Qinhuangdao (Hebei, China) in 2014 for annual health check-up. Participants were categorized into: low (VFA < 75.57 cm(2)), medium (75.57 cm(2) ≤ VFA<100.37 cm(2)), and high (VFA ≥ 100.37 cm(2)) (n = 52/group). We estimated VFA and plasma H(2)S levels by using bioelectrical impedance analysis and a fluorescence probe-based approach, respectively. The associations of H(2)S with VFA and obesity anthropometric measures were assessed. RESULTS: In the high VFA group, the body mass index (BMI, 30.4 ± 2.45 kg/m(2)), total body fat (TBF, 27.9 ± 3.23 kg), plasma H(2)S (3.5 μmol/L), free fatty acid (FFA, 0.6 ± 0.24 mmol/L), triglyceride (TG, 2.0 mmol/L), and total cholesterol (TC, 5.5 ± 1.02 mmol/L) levels were significantly higher than that of those of the low and medium VFA groups, respectively (P < 0.05). Plasma H(2)S levels were found to be inversely correlated with VFA, TBF, waist circumference, BMI, FFA, LnFINS, LnHOMA-IR, LnTG, TC, and LDL-C (P < 0.05). Multiple backward stepwise regression analysis revealed an inverse correlation of plasma H(2)S levels with FFA (β = −0.214, P = 0.005) and VFA (β = −0.429, P < 0.001), independent of adiposity measures and other confounding factors. CONCLUSION: VFA was independently and inversely associated with plasma H(2)S levels among Chinese young men. Therefore, determining plasma H(2)S levels could aid in the assessment of abnormal VAT distribution.