Perivascular Fat and its Role in Vascular Disease, Insulin Resistance and Diabetes

Perivascular adipose tissue is a visceral fat depot with an anatomical and functional contiguity to the vasculature system. Recent evidence suggests that perivascular adipose tissue could mechanically and functionally affect the vasculature, thereby possibly playing a role in adiposity-related atherosclerosis. Experimental and clinical observations suggest both favorable and unfavorable effects of perivascular fat. This review focuses on the emerging physiological and pathophysiological aspects of the perivascular fat and its role in vascular disease, insulin resistance and diabetes