Association of Exposure to Chinese Famine in Early Life with the Risk of Metabolic Syndrome in Adulthood

Abstract

Objective: To explore the association of famine exposure in early life with the risk of metabolic syndrome (MS) in the ­Chinese adults. Methods: Data were obtained from the wave 2009 of the China Health and Nutrition Survey. MS was identified when 3 or more of the following components happened: (1) waist circumference >90 cm in males or >85 cm in females; (2) fasting glucose ≥6.1 mmol/L; (3) systolic blood pressure ≥130 mm Hg/diabolic blood pressure ≥85 mm Hg; (4) fasting triglyceride ≥1.70 mmol/L; and (5) high-density lipids cholesterol <1.04 mmol/L. All participants were divided into 5 groups: no exposure, born after 1961; fetal life exposure, between 1959 and 1961; early childhood exposure, between 1956 and 1958; mid-childhood exposure, between 1953 and 1955; and late childhood exposure, between 1949 and 1952. A total of 2,080 subjects were included in this study. Results: In rural, famine exposure in fetal life and early childhood was associated with the lower risk of MS (p = 0.0491 and 0.0245; OR 0.583 and 0.703; and OR, 95% CI 0.341–0.998 and 0.517–0.956, respectively). But famine exposure in late childhood was associated with the higher risk of MS (p = 0.0140; OR 3.096; and OR, 95% CI 1.257–7.625). Famine exposure in early childhood was associated with the lower risk of MS (p = 0.0120; OR 0.633; and OR, 95% CI 0.443–0.904) in males. Conclusions: Famine exposure in mid- and late-childhood was associated with the higher risk of MS, especially in rural, males, and severe famine areas.