J Clin Med Res

Journal of Clinical Medicine Research, ISSN 1918-3003 print, 1918-3011 online, Open Access

Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, J Clin Med Res and Elmer Press Inc

Journal website https://jocmr.elmerjournals.com

Original Article

Volume 18, Number 10, October 2026, pages 737-747

Ectopic Adipose Tissue Depots and Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease: Relationships With Vitamin D

↓ Figure 1. Correlations between anthropometric parameters, vitamin D levels, and ectopic adipose tissue measures. AC: attenuation coefficient; BMI: body mass index; EAT: epicardial adipose tissue; EMT: extra-media thickness; MAFLD: metabolic-associated fatty liver disease; WC: waist circumference.

↓ Figure 3. Prevalence of BMI-defined obesity and AO depending on vitamin D status in the examined patients. AO: abdominal obesity; BMI: body mass index.

↓ Figure 4. Prevalence of MAFLD depending on vitamin D status in the examined patients. MAFLD: metabolic-associated fatty liver disease.

↓ Figure 6. The role of ectopic fat depots and vitamin D deficiency in the development of MAFLD. AT: adipose tissue; EAT: epicardial adipose tissue; MAFLD: metabolic-associated fatty liver disease; PVAT: perivascular adipose tissue.

↓ **Table 1.** Clinical and Demographic Characteristics of the Examined Patients
Parameter	Value
BMI: body mass index; CCA EMT: common carotid artery extra-media thickness; EAT: epicardial adipose tissue; MAFLD: metabolic-associated fatty liver disease; Me: median; WC: waist circumference.
Age, years (Me (Q1–Q3))	55 (40–60)
Sex male/female, n (%)	152/151 (50.2/49.8)
BMI, kg/m²	27.8 (24.7–32.7)
WC
Men, cm (Me (Q1–Q3))	100 (92–110)
Women, cm (Me (Q1–Q3))	94 (80–105)
Cardiovascular risk factors
Hypertension, n (%)	151 (49.8)
Overweight (25 ≤ BMI < 30 kg/m²), n (%)	100 (33.0)
Obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²), n (%)	118 (38.9)
Obesity grade 1/2/3, %	58.5/26.3/15.2
Abdominal obesity, n (%)	153 (50.5)
Dyslipidemia, n (%)	141 (46.5)
Hypercholesterolemia, n (%)	114 (37,6)
Hypertriglyceridemia, n (%)	106 (35)
Smoking, yes/no, n (%)	106 (34.9)
Ectopic adipose tissue
EAT thickness, mm (Me (Q1–Q3))	6.7 (4.9–8.4)
CCA EMT, mm (Me (Q1–Q3))	0.6 (0.5–0.7)
Attenuation coefficient, dB/cm/MHz (Me (Q1–Q3))	0.64 (0.59–0.72)
Hepatic steatosis, n (%)	125 (41.3)
MAFLD, n (%)	110 (36.3)

↓ Table 1. Clinical and Demographic Characteristics of the Examined Patients

Parameter

Value

BMI: body mass index; CCA EMT: common carotid artery extra-media thickness; EAT: epicardial adipose tissue; MAFLD: metabolic-associated fatty liver disease; Me: median; WC: waist circumference.

Age, years (Me (Q1–Q3))

55 (40–60)

Sex male/female, n (%)

152/151 (50.2/49.8)

BMI, kg/m²

27.8 (24.7–32.7)

Men, cm (Me (Q1–Q3))

100 (92–110)

Women, cm (Me (Q1–Q3))

94 (80–105)

Cardiovascular risk factors

Hypertension, n (%)

151 (49.8)

Overweight (25 ≤ BMI < 30 kg/m²), n (%)

100 (33.0)

Obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²), n (%)

118 (38.9)

Obesity grade 1/2/3, %

58.5/26.3/15.2

Abdominal obesity, n (%)

153 (50.5)

Dyslipidemia, n (%)

141 (46.5)

Hypercholesterolemia, n (%)

114 (37,6)

Hypertriglyceridemia, n (%)

106 (35)

Smoking, yes/no, n (%)

106 (34.9)

Ectopic adipose tissue

EAT thickness, mm (Me (Q1–Q3))

6.7 (4.9–8.4)

CCA EMT, mm (Me (Q1–Q3))

0.6 (0.5–0.7)

Attenuation coefficient, dB/cm/MHz (Me (Q1–Q3))

0.64 (0.59–0.72)

Hepatic steatosis, n (%)

125 (41.3)

MAFLD, n (%)

110 (36.3)

↓ **Table 2.** Multivariable Logistic Regression Analysis of Factors Associated With MAFLD, Including Vitamin D Status, BMI, and WC
Variables	β coefficient	OR	95% CI	P value
BMI: body mass index; CI: confidence interval; MAFLD: metabolic-associated fatty liver disease; Me: median; OR: odds ratio; WC: waist circumference.
Model 1
Constant	−8.545	-	-	0.002
Age	0.105	1.111	1.044–1.182	< 0.001
Sex	−1.507	0.221	0.028–1.732	0.151
Dyslipidemia	1.035	2.817	0.539–14.714	0.220
Smoking	0.019	1.019	0.157–6.610	0.984
BMI	0.182	1.20	1.065–1.352	0.003
Vitamin D	−0.110	0.896	0.802–1.000	0.05
Model 2
Constant	−8.545	-	-	0.005
Age	0.204	1.227	1.051–1.431	< 0.009
Sex	−1.385	0.250	0.005–11.112	0.474
Dyslipidemia	3.073	11.602	0.892–13.055	0.059
Smoking	−2.095	0.123	0.002–5.316	0.276
WC	0.429	1.536	1.144–2.061	0.004
Vitamin D	−0.211	0.810	0.662–0.990	0.039

↓ Table 2. Multivariable Logistic Regression Analysis of Factors Associated With MAFLD, Including Vitamin D Status, BMI, and WC

Variables

β coefficient

95% CI

P value

BMI: body mass index; CI: confidence interval; MAFLD: metabolic-associated fatty liver disease; Me: median; OR: odds ratio; WC: waist circumference.

Model 1

Constant

−8.545

0.002

Age

0.105

1.111

1.044–1.182

< 0.001

Sex

−1.507

0.221

0.028–1.732

0.151

Dyslipidemia

1.035

2.817

0.539–14.714

0.220

Smoking

0.019

1.019

0.157–6.610

0.984

BMI

0.182

1.20

1.065–1.352

0.003

Vitamin D

−0.110

0.896

0.802–1.000

0.05

Model 2

Constant

−8.545

0.005

Age

0.204

1.227

1.051–1.431

< 0.009

Sex

−1.385

0.250

0.005–11.112

0.474

Dyslipidemia

3.073

11.602

0.892–13.055

0.059

Smoking

−2.095

0.123

0.002–5.316

0.276

0.429

1.536

1.144–2.061

0.004

Vitamin D

−0.211

0.810

0.662–0.990

0.039