Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in an Indian urban population

OBJECTIVES: To determine prevalence of the metabolic syndrome using United States Adult Treatment Panel-3 (ATP-3) guidelines in an urban Indian population. METHODS: Randomly selected adults >20 years were studied using stratified sampling. Target study sample was 1800 with population proportionate distribution (men 960, women 840). Evaluation of anthropometric variables, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and lipids was performed. Subjects (1123; response 62.4%) were examined, fasting blood samples were available in 1091 (532 men, 559 women) and analysed for prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Atherosclerosis risk factors were determined using the current guidelines. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed when any three of the following were present: central obesity, raised triglycerides >/=150 mg/dl (>/=1.7 mmol/l), low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, blood pressure >/=130/>/=85 mm Hg, and diabetes or fasting glucose >110 mg/dl (>6.1 mmol/l). Intergroup comparisons were performed using t-test or chi-square test. RESULTS: Metabolic syndrome was present in 345 (31.6%) subjects; prevalence was 122 (22.9%) in men and 223 (39.9%) in women (p<0.001); the age-adjusted prevalence was 24.9%, 18.4% in men and 30.9% in women. There was a significant age-related increase in its prevalence (Mantel-Haenzel chi(2) for trend p<0.05). Prevalence of components of metabolic syndrome in men and women was: central obesity (waist, men >102 cm, women >88 cm) in 116 (25.6%) and 246 (44.0%); low HDL cholesterol (men<40 mg/dl, <1.0 mmol/l), women<50 mg/dl, <1.3 mmol/l) in 292 (54.9%) and 504 (90.2%); high triglycerides >/=150 mg/dl (>/=1.7 mmol/l) in 172 (32.3%) and 160 (28.6%); and impaired fasting glucose or diabetes in 90 (16.9%) and 90 (16.1%). The prevalence of physical inactivity, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia (>/=200 mg/dl, >/=5.2 mmol/l) and high LDL cholesterol (>/=130 mg/dl, >/=3.4 mmol/l) was greater in the metabolic syndrome group in both men and women (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome in an urban Indian population. Focus of cardiovascular prevention should be at this high-risk group.     

Degradation in insulin sensitivity with increasing severity of the metabolic syndrome in obese postmenopausal women

AIM: We investigated the relationship between insulin sensitivity and the graded increase in the number of features of the metabolic syndrome in a cross-sectional sample of obese postmenopausal women. We hypothesized that insulin sensitivity would deteriorate with an increased number of metabolic syndrome phenotypes. METHODS: Insulin sensitivity was measured in 75 obese postmenopausal women (age: 57.3 +/- 5.3 years; BMI: 32.8 +/- 4.5 kg/m2) by using both the hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp and the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Features of the metabolic syndrome included visceral fat (>130 cm2), HDL-cholesterol (<1.29 mmol/l), fasting triglycerides (> or =1.7 mmol/l), blood pressure (> or =130/> or =85 mmHg) and fasting glucose (> or =6.1 mmol/l). Participants were classified into three categories based on the presence of metabolic syndrome phenotypes: 0-1 vs. 2 vs. > or =3 features of the metabolic syndrome. RESULTS: We found that insulin sensitivity decreased in a graded fashion (12.19 +/- 3.2 vs. 11.80 +/- 2.3 vs. 9.29 +/- 2.6 mg/min/FFM) and HOMA-IR increased in a similar manner (2.95 +/- 1.1 vs. 3.28 +/- 1.3 vs. 4.65 +/- 2.2), as the number of features of the metabolic syndrome increased from 0-1 to > or =3. When insulin sensitivity was statistically adjusted for visceral fat (as measured by computed tomography) and plasma triglycerides, the differences among groups were abolished. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that a decreased insulin sensitivity is associated with increased features of the metabolic syndrome in obese postmenopausal women and that visceral fat as well as plasma triglyceride accumulation might be potential mediators of this relationship.     

Plasma viscosity, fibrinogen and the metabolic syndrome: effect of obesity and cardiorespiratory fitness.

The association between both plasma viscosity and fibrinogen concentration with clustering of metabolic risk markers was examined within a cross-sectional study of employed middle-aged men. Analyses were performed on a subsample of 629 non-smokers (46.7+/-7.8 years) without diabetes. The effect of obesity and cardiorespiratory fitness on these haemorheological parameters and their association with the metabolic syndrome was also investigated. The cohort was grouped by the number of metabolic markers present. Metabolic markers included high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (<1.13 mmol/l), triglycerides (> or =1.805 mmol/l), glucose (> or =5.5 mmol/l) and diastolic blood pressure (> or =90 mm Hg). The age-adjusted odds ratio for hyperviscosity (> or =1.67 mPa/s) was 2.08 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.06-4.05; P = 0.031] for the subjects with the metabolic syndrome (three or more metabolic markers) when compared with those with no metabolic abnormalities. The comparable age-adjusted odds ratio for hyperfibrinogenaemia (> or = 3.47 g/l) was non-significantly higher at 1.69 (95% CI, 0.87-3.27; P = 0.119). The mean age-adjusted plasma viscosity level and the prevalence of hyperviscosity increased significantly from 1.629 to 1.692 mPa/s (P = 0.0005) and from 21.0 to 36.0% with accumulating metabolic markers (P = 0.006). Plasma viscosity and fibrinogen concentration both increased with higher quartiles of skinfolds (P = 0.003 and P = 0.01, respectively) following adjustment for age, lipids and leucocyte count. Plasma viscosity was also significantly lower with higher levels of predicted maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) (P = 0.0005). The odds ratio for hyperviscosity in subjects with the metabolic syndrome as compared with those with no metabolic markers was attenuated following adjustment for age, sum of skinfolds and predicted maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) (1.44; 95% CI, 0.72-2.90; P = 0.307). These cross-sectional results suggest that plasma viscosity is associated with increased clustering of metabolic markers in middle-aged men of high socio-economic status. Obesity and poor cardiorespiratory fitness may be important in the development of haemorheological abnormalities associated with the metabolic syndrome.     

Clustering of components of the metabolic syndrome and risk for development of type 2 diabetes in Japanese male office workers

To investigate the effects of the clustering of components of the metabolic syndrome (MS) on development of diabetes, we examined 3298 Japanese male office workers aged 35-59 years who did not have type 2 diabetes (a fasting plasma glucose level of > or =7.0 mmol/l or receipt of hypoglycemic medication) or a history of cardiovascular disease. Fasting plasma glucose levels were measured at periodic annual health examinations from May 1994 through May 2001. After adjustment for potential risk factors for diabetes, the multivariate-adjusted relative risk of type 2 diabetes compared with the subjects without components of the MS was 1.58 (95% CI: 1.08-2.32), 2.48 (95% CI: 1.69-3.63), 3.10 (95% CI: 2.05-4.68), and 5.22 (95% CI: 3.49-7.83) (P-value for trend <0.001) for those with 1, 2, 3, and > or =4 components, respectively. Even after the subjects were stratified according to fasting plasma glucose level, the clustering of components of the MS was associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes for subjects in all three categories of low-normal fasting glucose (a fasting plasma glucose level of <5.1 mmol/l), high-normal fasting glucose (a fasting plasma glucose level of 5.0-6.0 mmol/l), and impaired fasting glucose (a fasting plasma glucose level of 6.1-6.9 mmol/l). These results indicate that clustering of components of the MS associated with diabetes precedes an increase in the risk of type 2 diabetes in Japanese men.     

The metabolic syndrome in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to evaluate the presence of the metabolic syndrome in COPD patients who participated in a cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program. The metabolic syndrome is characterized by the presence of abdominal obesity, atherogenic dyslipidemia, raised blood pressure, presence of insulin resistance, and prothrombotic and inflammatory states that predispose to cardiovascular diseases. METHODS: Thirty-eight COPD patients (age: 66 +/- 7 years, [mean +/- SD], FEV1: 43 +/- 16% predicted) and 34 control participants matched for age and gender are included in this study. The criteria for the identification of the metabolic syndrome include 3 or more of the following features: abdominal obesity (waist circumference: > 102 cm in men, > 88 cm in women), triglycerides levels (>or= 1.69 mmol/L), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (< 1.0 mmol/L in men, < 1.3 mmol/L in women), blood pressure (>or= 130/ >or= 85 mm Hg), and fasting glucose levels (>or= 6.1 mmol/L). RESULTS: Forty-seven percent of COPD patients and 21% of control participants presented 3 or more determinants of the metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of metabolic syndrome is frequent in patients with COPD who participated in a cardiopulmonary program. Hence, this population should be considered for screening for the metabolic syndrome.     

Clusters of metabolic risk factors predict cardiovascular events in hypertension with target-organ damage: the LIFE study

The relation of metabolic syndrome (MetS) with cardiovascular outcome may be less evident when preclinical cardiovascular disease is present. We explored, in a post hoc analysis, whether MetS predicts cardiovascular events in hypertensive patients with electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (ECG-LVH) in the Losartan Intervention For Endpoint (LIFE) reduction in hypertension study. MetS was defined by >or=2 risk factors plus hypertension: body mass index >or=30 kg/m(2), high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol <1.0/1.3 mmol/l (<40/50 mg/dl) (men/women), glucose >or=6.1 mmol/l (>or=110 mg/dl) fasting or >or=7.8 mmol/l (>or=140 mg/dl) nonfasting or diabetes. Cardiovascular death and the primary composite end point (CEP) of cardiovascular death, stroke and myocardial infarction were examined. In MetS (1,591 (19.3%) of 8,243 eligible patients), low HDL-cholesterol (72%), obesity (77%) and impaired glucose (73%) were similarly prevalent, with higher blood pressure, serum creatinine and Cornell product, but lower Sokolow-Lyon voltage (all P<0.001). After adjusting for baseline covariates, hazard ratios for CEPs and cardiovascular death (4.8+/-1.1 years follow-up) were 1.47 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.27-1.71)- and 1.73 (95% CI, 1.38-2.17)-fold higher with MetS (both P<0.0001), and were only marginally reduced when further adjusted for diabetes, obesity, low HDL-cholesterol, non-HDL-cholesterol, pulse pressure and in-treatment systolic blood pressure and heart rate. Thus, MetS is associated with increased cardiovascular events in hypertensive patients with ECG-LVH, independently of single cardiovascular risk factors.     

中国成人代谢综合征腰围切点的研究

目的　根据中国成人较近期的调查数据 ,分析代谢综合征中腰围的适宜切点。方法　利用国家“九五”科技攻关课题 1998年在 15组人群进行心血管病危险因素调查 13732例 35～ 5 9岁成人的数据库 ,分析男性和女性不同腰围水平和代谢综合征其他成分聚集的关系 ,并寻找检出两个及以上危险成分假阳性和假阴性率均较低的腰围切点 ,作为成人腰围切点的建议。据此计算各性别年龄组代谢综合征的患病率 ,以及成分组合特点。结果　随腰围增大 ,代谢综合征成分聚集的OR值显著增高 ,以男性腰围≥ 85cm ,女性腰围≥ 80cm ,ROC曲线距离最短。以此为腰围切点中年男性人群代谢综合征患病率为 19 3% ,女性为 13 9% ,其中以腰围超标 ,血压升高和高甘油三酯三项的组合为最多。结论　建议男性腰围≥ 85cm ,女性腰围≥ 80cm ,收缩压≥ 130mmHg(1mmHg =0 133kPa)和 (或 )舒张压≥ 85mmHg ,血清甘油三酯≥ 1 6 9mmol/L ,高密度脂蛋白胆固醇 <1 0 3mmol/L ,空腹血糖≥ 6 1mmol/L ,5项中具备 3项及以上作为中国成人代谢综合征的临床检出标准。以上初步结果需要在有全国代表性的样本中进一步验证。     

Increased levels of triglycerides, BMI and blood pressure and low physical activity increase the risk of diabetes in Swedish women. A prospective 18-year follow-up of the BEDA study.

AIM: To investigate risk factors for the development of diabetes in middle-aged women. METHODS: A random population sample of 1351 women without prior diabetes or cardiovascular disease, aged 39-65 years, took part in a screening study in 1979-1981 with questionnaires, physical examination and blood sampling. Development of diabetes up to 1998 was identified at a second examination in 1997-1998. RESULTS: Seventy-three women (5.4%) were diagnosed with diabetes during follow-up. As expected, obesity resulted in a rising age-adjusted risk with hazards ratio 3.2 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3, 8.1] at body mass index (BMI) 24-27 kg/m(2), and 8.3 (3.5, 19.7), at BMI > or = 27, compared with BMI < 22 kg/m(2). S-triglycerides (TG) carried a steeply increasing age-adjusted risk with hazards ratio 4.0 (95% CI 2.1, 7.6) already at s-TG 1.0-1.4 mmol/l, 7.1 (3.6, 14.0) at s-TG 1.5-1.9 mmol/l and 9.3 (4.3, 20.2) at s-TG > or = 2.0 mmol/l compared with s-TG < 1.0 mmol/l. Increasing systolic blood pressure (SBP) to 130-144, 145-159 and > or = 160 mmHg escalated the hazards ratio of diabetes to 1.6 (0.8, 3.3), 3.6 (1.7, 7.4) and 5.6 (2.7, 11.4), respectively, compared with SBP < 130 mmHg. Also, low physical activity predicted diabetes, with hazards ratio 2.1 (1.3, 3.3) for sedentary compared with non-sedentary activity. Smoking was not associated with increased risk of diabetes. After adjustment for BMI, SBP and physical activity, increasing TG level remained a strong and significant risk factor for diabetes [hazards ratio 3.0 (1.6, 5.7), 3.7 (1.8, 7.7) and 4.5 (2.0, 10.0), P < 0.001]. CONCLUSIONS: Among middle-aged Swedish women even very slightly elevated s-TG resulted in a considerably enhanced risk of developing diabetes, which was independent of age, BMI, blood pressure and physical activity.     

Metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease in older people: The cardiovascular health study

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prospective association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in older people and to evaluate the effect of lowering the threshold for impaired fasting glucose (IFG) on the prevalence of IFG and MetS and the risk of CVD. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Four field centers in U.S. communities. PARTICIPANTS: Three thousand five hundred eighty-five subjects in the Cardiovascular Health Study free of diabetes mellitus and CVD at baseline (mean age 72, 62% female, 14% black). MEASUREMENTS: Baseline measures of MetS components and adjudicated incident CVD events. MetS (2001) was defined first using the original criteria from the Third Adult Treatment Panel Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (> or =3 of the following: large waist circumference (women >88 cm, men >102 cm), elevated triglycerides (> or =1.70 mmol/L), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (men <1.04 mmol/L, women <1.30 mmol/L), elevated fasting glucose (6.1-6.9 mmol/L), and high blood pressure (> or =130/85 mmHg or self-reported use of medications for hypertension). Subjects were also classified according to the revised definition of the MetS (2005) that applies the lower threshold for fasting glucose (5.6-6.9 mmol/L). RESULTS: During follow-up (median 11 years), 818 coronary heart disease (CHD), 401 stroke, and 554 congestive heart failure (CHF) events occurred. Age- and race-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for CHD, stroke, and CHF were 1.30 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.07-1.57), 0.94 (95% CI = 0.73-1.21), and 1.40 (95% CI = 1.12-1.76) for women and 1.35 (95% CI = 1.10-1.66), 1.51 (95% CI = 1.08-2.12), and 1.47 (95% CI = 1.14-1.90) for men, respectively. Overall, women and men with MetS (2005) were 20% to 30% more likely to experience any CVD event than subjects without MetS (2005). Using the lower cut-point for IFG resulted in a near tripling in IFG prevalence (16% to 46%) and an additional 9% classified with MetS (2005) but HRs similar to those estimated from the original MetS (2001) criteria. High blood pressure was the component most strongly associated with incident CHD. CONCLUSION: Results from this study of an elderly, population-based cohort provide support for earlier investigations in primarily middle-aged populations that link the presence of MetS with the development of CVD and further underscore the importance of recognizing and treating its individual components, particularly high blood pressure.     

Association of lymphocyte sub-populations with clustered features of metabolic syndrome in middle-aged Japanese men

To examine the relationship between altered cellular immune status and clustered features of the metabolic syndrome, we measured body mass index (BMI), serum concentrations of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting plasma glucose, and blood pressure levels as well as differential leukocyte counts and lymphocyte sub-populations among 439 apparently healthy Japanese men aged 35-60 years. The components of the metabolic syndrome were defined based on the following criteria: BMI >/=25.0 kg/m(2), fasting plasma glucose >/=6.11 mmol/l, systolic blood pressure >/=130 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure >/=85 mmHg, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol <1.03 mmol/l, and fasting triglyceride >/=1.69 mmol/l. Counts of total leukocyte, total lymphocyte, CD3 + T cell, CD4 + T cell, and CD4 + CD45RO + T cell significantly correlated with the number of components of the metabolic syndrome (0, 1, 2, and 3+) after adjustment for age and smoking status. These findings were more evident among smokers than among non-smokers. The counts of total leukocytes, total lymphocytes and more specifically memory (CD4 + CD45RO + T) cells were elevated with clustered features of the metabolic syndrome in middle-aged men, which suggest the involvement of altered cellular immune status in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.     

The incidence and persistence of the NCEP (National Cholesterol Education Program) metabolic syndrome. The French D.E.S.I.R. study

CONTEXT: In 2001 the "National Cholesterol and Education Program Expert Panel" gave a clinical definition of the metabolic syndrome. The frequency of this syndrome at baseline and its incidence and persistence at three years is studied in a French population. SUBJECTS: 2109 men and 2184 women from the D.E.S.I.R. longitudinal cohort study (Data from an Epidemiological Study on the Insulin Resistance syndrome) in central-western France, aged 30 to 64 years, were examined at inclusion and three years later. METHODS: Evaluation of the frequencies, incidences and persistence of the metabolic syndrome and its abnormalities. This syndrome is defined by the presence of three or more of five abnormalities: waist circumference > 102/88 cm (men/women); triglycerides > o r=1.69 mmol/l, HDL-cholesterol<1.04/1.29 mmol/l (men/women); systolic/diastolic blood pressure > or =130 and/or 85 mmHg; fasting plasma glucose > or =6.1 mmol/l. RESULTS: At baseline, 10% of men and 7% of women had the metabolic syndrome. If the syndrome was defined to include a treatment in the abnormalities (for diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia), the syndrome frequencies increased to 16% and 11%. However only 12% and 8% respectively, had this syndrome both at inclusion and at three years. High blood pressure was the most frequent abnormality: 70% and 47% in men and women respectively, at inclusion. The most stable abnormality was high waist circumference (80% persisted), hyperglycaemia the least stable (60% persisted). Hyperinsulinaemia did not cluster closely with this syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: The age-specific frequency of the syndrome is more than 2.5 times higher in the US than in this French cohort and this ratio increased with age. The higher frequencies of abdominal obesity and low HDL-cholesterol in women than in men suggest that these gender-specific thresholds may need to be refined.     

Association of sleep time with diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance

BACKGROUND: Experimental sleep restriction causes impaired glucose tolerance (IGT); however, little is known about the metabolic effects of habitual sleep restriction. We assessed the cross-sectional relation of usual sleep time to diabetes mellitus (DM) and IGT among participants in the Sleep Heart Health Study, a community-based prospective study of the cardiovascular consequences of sleep-disordered breathing. METHODS: Participants were 722 men and 764 women, aged 53 to 93 years. Usual sleep time was obtained by standardized questionnaire. Diabetes mellitus was defined as a serum glucose level of 126 mg/dL or more (> or =7.0 mmol/L) fasting or 200 mg/dL or more (> or =11.1 mmol/L) 2 hours following standard oral glucose challenge or medication use for DM. Impaired glucose tolerance was defined as a 2-hour postchallenge glucose level of 140 mg/dL or more (> or =7.8 mmol/L) and less than 200 mg/dL. The relation of sleep time to DM and IGT was examined using categorical logistic regression with adjustment for age, sex, race, body habitus, and apnea-hypopnea index. RESULTS: The median sleep time was 7 hours per night, with 27.1% of subjects sleeping 6 hours or less per night. Compared with those sleeping 7 to 8 hours per night, subjects sleeping 5 hours or less and 6 hours per night had adjusted odds ratios for DM of 2.51 (95% confidence interval, 1.57-4.02) and 1.66 (95% confidence interval, 1.15-2.39), respectively. Adjusted odds ratios for IGT were 1.33 (95% confidence interval, 0.83-2.15) and 1.58 (95% confidence interval, 1.15-2.18), respectively. Subjects sleeping 9 hours or more per night also had increased odds ratios for DM and IGT. These associations persisted when subjects with insomnia symptoms were excluded. CONCLUSIONS: A sleep duration of 6 hours or less or 9 hours or more is associated with increased prevalence of DM and IGT. Because this effect was present in subjects without insomnia, voluntary sleep restriction may contribute to the large public health burden of DM.     

Hypertension is the most common component of metabolic syndrome and the greatest contributor to carotid arteriosclerosis in apparently healthy Japanese individuals.

The cluster of metabolic and hemodynamic risk factors known as metabolic syndrome is known to be a risk factor for ischemic cardiovascular diseases and stroke. By analyzing the cross-sectional data from 8,144 individuals (age 19-88 years) who underwent general health screening, we have investigated the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, as diagnosed by modified-National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) criteria corresponding to the following five categories: triglycerides > or = 150 mg/dl; high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol < 40 mg/dl in men or < 50 mg/dl in women; fasting plasma glucose > or = 110 mg/dl; systolic/diastolic blood pressure > or = 130/85 mmHg; and body mass index > 25 kg/m2. We found that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 19% in men and 7% in women. After adjustment for age, metabolic syndrome was found to be significantly more prevalent in men than in women, with an odds ratio of 3.08 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.62-3.61, p < 0.0001). Among the five metabolic/hemodynamic risk factor components, hypertension was observed most frequently in individuals with metabolic syndrome, at 85% in men and 87% in women. In addition, multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, serum total cholesterol levels, and smoking status showed that hypertension possessed the greatest odds ratio (1.43, 95% CI 1.27-1.60) for carotid plaque among the metabolic/hemodynamic risk factors. These data emphasize the importance of controlling blood pressure for reducing the risk of both metabolic syndrome and carotid arteriosclerosis in apparently healthy individuals.     

Parity and the metabolic syndrome in older Chinese women: the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether parity or gravidity contributes to the development of the metabolic syndrome (MS). METHODS: The first phase of the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study recruited 7352 women and 3065 men aged 50-93 years in 2003-4. Data on the number of live births and pregnancies, other reproduction-associated factors and socioeconomic and lifestyles factors were collected by standardized interview. The MS components were determined through physical examination and measurement of fasting blood samples. MS was identified if waist circumference was >or= 90 cm for men or >or= 80 cm for women, plus any two of: (a) raised triglyceride (TG) level (1.7 mmol/l) or specific treatment for this lipid abnormality; (b) reduced high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (< 1.03 mmol/l in males or < 1.29 mmol/l in females) or specific treatment for this lipid abnormality; (c) raised blood pressure (BP, systolic BP >or= 130 mmHg or diastolic BP >or= 85 mmHg) or hypertension therapy; and (d) raised fasting glucose (>or= 5.6 mmol/l) or previously diagnosed type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: Before adjustment for potential confounders, we found associations between the number of births and lifestyle and socioeconomic factors in both sexes. However, in women, but not in men, body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio, triglyceride and glucose were positively associated with the number of birth after adjusting for a range of potential confounders. The age-adjusted prevalence of the MS increased with the number of births and pregnancies in women, but the gradient for birth was steeper than that for pregnancies [odds ratio change per birth 1.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11-1.22, P < 0.001; odds ratio change per pregnancy 1.11, 95% CI 1.06-1.16, P < 0.001], although attenuating the association adjustment did not affect the significance of these findings. There was no association in men with regard to the number of their partners' live births given the same analysis and similar shared living background with the women. CONCLUSION: Higher parity or gravidity was associated with a consistent increase in the risk of MS in Chinese women. As the association persisted after adjustment for lifestyle factors and there was no association between the risk of MS and the number of births associated with the partners of the males, the association in women may represent a biological response to pregnancy.     

Prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus – do the new WHO criteria make a difference?

AIMS: To describe the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) according to the 1998 WHO provisional recommendations and compare it to that found with previous 1985 WHO criteria. METHODS: A total of 5564 consecutive women aged 20 years or more without diagnosis of diabetes mellitus outside of pregnancy in general prenatal care clinics of the National Health Service in 6 state capitals of Brazil, between their 20th and 28th gestational weeks were enrolled. RESULTS: Of the 5004 women who completed a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, 379 (7.6%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 6.9% to 8.4%) had GDM by the 1998 criteria (fasting glucose > or = 7.0 mmol/l or 2 h glucose > or = 7.8 mmol/l). Of these 379 cases, only 21 (5.5%) had hyperglycaemia in the range considered diabetes mellitus outside pregnancy (fasting glucose > or = 7.0 mmol/l or 2 h glucose > or = 11.1 mmol/l); the remaining 358 (94.5%) had hyperglycaemia in the impaired glucose tolerance range (fasting glucose < 7.0 and 2 h glucose > or = 7.8 mmol/l and < 11.1 mmol/l). Using the 1985 criteria (fasting or 2 h glucose > or = 7.8 mmol/l), 378 cases of GDM were found, 15 in the diabetes range and 363 in the impaired glucose tolerance range. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of GDM is minimally altered by the new WHO definition. Although GDM is a common condition, the vast majority of the cases have hyperglycaemia in the range considered impaired glucose tolerance outside pregnancy.     

Effects of three months' diet after diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes on plasma lipids and lipoproteins (UKPDS 45). UK Prospective Diabetes Study Group.

AIMS: To assess the effect of diet on fasting plasma lipids and lipoproteins in patients with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes. METHODS: A total of 2,906 patients each underwent 3 months' diet therapy before allocation to therapy in a randomized controlled clinical trial. Lipids and lipoproteins were measured at diagnosis and after 3 months' diet. RESULTS: The mean body weight at diagnosis was 83 kg. Weight decreased after diet by a mean of 4.5 kg; body mass index (BMI) decreased by 1.51 kg/m2; plasma glucose fell by 3 mmol/l from 11 mmol/l; and HbA1c by 2% from 9%. Triglyceride concentrations were reduced in men by -0.41 (95% confidence interval (CI) -0.47 to - 0.35) mmol/l from a geometric mean 1.8 (1 SD interval 1.0-3.0) mmol/l, and in women by -0.23 (-0.28 to -0.18) mmol/l from a similar level. Cholesterol decreased in men by -0.28 (-0.33 to -0.24) mmol/l from 5.5 (1.1) mmol/l, and in women by -0.09 (-0.14 to -0.04) mmol/l from 5.8 (1.2) mmol/l with corresponding changes in LDL cholesterol. HDL cholesterol increased in men by 0.02 (0.01 to 0.04) mmol/l and in women by 0.01 (0 to 0.02) mmol/l. Triglyceride concentration in the top tertile was reduced by 37% in men (> 2.1 mmol/l) and by 23% in women (> 2.2 mmol/l) with regression to mean accounting for 13% and 6%, respectively. Similarly cholesterol in the top tertile was reduced by 12% in men (> 5.8 mmol/l) and 7% in women (> 6.2 mmol/l) with 6% of the decrease in both men and women accounted for by regression to the mean. CONCLUSIONS: Initial dietary therapy in patients with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes substantially reduced plasma triglyceride, marginally improved total cholesterol and subfractions, and resulted in a potentially less atherogenic profile, although this did not eliminate the excess cardiovascular risk in patients with Type 2 diabetes.     

Increased visceral fat and impaired glucose tolerance predict the increased risk of metabolic syndrome in Japanese middle-aged men.

BACKGROUND: Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) represents a stage of pre-diabetes and is a risk factor for future cardiovascular disease (CVD) which is a major cause of death in type 2 diabetes. The metabolic risk factors such as elevated blood pressure (elevated BP), abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia (elevated levels of total triglycerides [TG] and low levels of HDL cholesterol), and hyperglycemia precede the onset of the metabolic syndrome that increases the risk for CVD. This clustering is commonly associated with pre-diabetic hyperinsulinemia and it reflects peripheral insulin resistance. The present study documented that a visceral fat area (VFA) >/= 100 cm (2) can replace waist-to-hip ratios (WHR) associated with IGT or IFG/IGT as a critical risk for the development of the metabolic syndrome in Japanese middle-aged men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 575 middle-aged Japanese men with fasting plasma glucose levels of 6.1 - 6.9 mmol/l (impaired fasting glucose; IFG) were enrolled in the study. After a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), blood samples were collected 0 - 2 h later for determination of plasma glucose, insulin concentrations and other variables. Based on the results of an OGTT, the subjects were subgrouped into categories of glucose tolerance for further study. RESULTS: Subjects with IGT or IFG/IGT had significantly higher levels of metabolic abnormalities such as high BMI, increased AUC glucose, elevated HbA1c, high VFA, elevated BP, and increased TG levels when compared to NGT (normal glucose tolerance) (p < 0.001). Compensatory hyper-secretion of insulin was seen in all pre-diabetic subjects, and was higher in IFG/IGT subjects (681 +/- 33 pmol . h/l) than NGT (480 +/- 22 pmol . h/l) (p < 0.01). The metabolic clustering including abnormal VFA, TG, HDL-C, and BP was strongly associated with the development of metabolic syndrome. Interestingly, VFA >/= 100 cm (2) adjusted for the Japanese correlates strongly with the development of the metabolic syndrome in preclinical IGT or IFG/IGT subjects, with odds ratios of 2.7 and higher. CONCLUSION: VFA >/= 100 cm (2) strongly correlates with prediabetic IGT or IFG/IGT which is possibly associated with underlying insulin resistance, and is a critical risk factor linked to the development of metabolic syndrome in Japanese middle-aged subjects with IGT or IFG/IGT.     

Association between fasting glucose and C-reactive protein in a Japanese population: the Minoh study

To investigate the association between fasting glucose and C-reactive protein (CRP), we examined 1715 Japanese individuals (723 men and 992 women) aged 40-69 years who did not have medication for hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia, a history of cardiovascular disease or CRP levels>10mg/l. There was a statistically significant unadjusted correlation between CRP and each component of the metabolic syndrome, including fasting glucose, fasting insulin, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (negative), and triglycerides in both men and women. With adjustment for age, cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, and other components of the metabolic syndrome, the CRP increments (as back-transformed) compared with the lowest tertile of normal fasting glucose were 0.99, 1.05, 1.21, and 1.34mg/l (P for trend=0.008) with the second lowest and highest tertiles of normal fasting glucose, impaired fasting glucose, and type-2 diabetes, respectively in men. The respective adjusted CRP increments were 1.12, 1.23, 1.33, and 1.93mg/l (P for trend<0.001) in women. In the stratified analyses of CRP levels by sex, obesity status, and fasting glucose category or the number of components of the metabolic syndrome, an increase in CRP levels was greater in women than men with obesity and higher fasting glucose category (gender interaction: P<0.001) or an increased number of components of the metabolic syndrome (gender interaction: P=0.003). These results indicate that CRP levels increase continuously across the spectrum of fasting glucose in both sexes. This association is more pronounced in women.     

Metabolic syndrome and urinary cGMP excretion in general population

To examine the relationship between metabolic syndrome and endothelial dysfunction, we investigated cross-sectionally the correlation between metabolic risk factors and urinary excretion of cyclic guanosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cGMP), a second messenger of nitric oxide (NO), in 1541 Japanese men and women aged 40–79 years. The 24-h urinary excretion of cGMP was measured using a ¹²⁵I-labeled cGMP radioimmunoassay and was adjusted for urinary creatinine excretion (nmol/mmol creatinine). The components of metabolic syndrome were defined based on the following criteria: body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25.0 kg/m², fasting plasma glucose ≥ 6.11 mmol/l or non-fasting plasma glucose level ≥ 11.1 mmol/l, systolic blood pressure ≥ 130 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 85 mm Hg, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol < 1.03 mmol/l for men and <1.29 mmol/l for women, and triglyceride ≥ 1.69 mmol/l. The number of components of metabolic syndrome correlated inversely with urinary cGMP excretion; means of cGMP excretion for the whole group adjusted for age, sex, and cardiovascular risk factors were 53.6, 48.6, 47.9, 44.4 and 42.3 nmol/mmol for 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4–5 components of metabolic syndrome, respectively (p = 0.002). Our data suggest that a reduction of NO bioactivity concur with clustered features of the metabolic syndrome.     

Impact of cigarette smoking on the incidence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus in middle-aged Japanese men: the Osaka Health Survey.

AIMS: To assess the impact of cigarette smoking on the incidence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in middle-aged Japanese men. METHODS: The study enrolled 6250 men aged 35-60 years and free of diabetes, impaired fasting glucose and hypertension at entry. Type 2 DM was defined by a fasting plasma glucose level > or =7.0 mmol/l or physician-diagnosed Type 2DM. RESULTS: Four hundred and fifty cases of Type 2 DM were confirmed during the 60904 person-years follow-up. After adjustment for multiple covariates, including age, body mass index, alcohol consumption, physical activity, parental history of diabetes and the level of fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and haematocrit, the relative risk of Type 2 DM among current smokers compared with non-smokers was 1.47 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.14-1.92). Men who smoked >30 cigarettes/day had a multivariate-relative risk of 1.73 (95% CI 1.20-2.48) compared with non-smokers. The number of cigarettes smoked daily and the pack-year values were positively related to the development of Type 2 DM in a dose-dependent manner (P for trends = 0.0026 and 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: A cigarette smoking habit is an independent risk factor for Type 2 DM.