Metabolic Risk Factors In Men Research Articles

Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Body Composition and Metabolic Risk Factors in Men: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Vitamin D might play a role in metabolic processes and obesity. We therefore examined vitamin D effects on metabolic markers and obesity in a randomized controlled trial (RCT). This is a post-hoc analysis of the Graz Vitamin D&TT-RCT, a single-center, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial. We included 200 healthy men with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) D) levels <75 nmol/L. Subjects received 20,000 IU of vitamin D3/week (n = 100) or placebo (n = 100) for 12 weeks. Outcome measures were metabolic markers, anthropometric measures, and body composition assessed by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. One-hundred and ninety-two men completed the study. We found a significant treatment effect on fasting glucose/fasting insulin ratio (−5.3 (−10.4 to −0.2), p = 0.040), whereas we observed no significant effect on the remaining outcome parameters. In subgroup analyses of men with baseline 25(OH)D levels <50 nmol/L (n = 80), we found a significant effect on waist circumference (1.6 (0.3 to 2.9) cm, p = 0.012), waist-to-hip ratio (0.019 (0.002 to 0.036), p = 0.031), total body fat (0.029 (0.004 to 0.055) %, p = 0.026), and android fat (1.18 (0.11 to 2.26) %, p = 0.010). In middle-aged healthy men, vitamin D treatment had a negative effect on insulin sensitivity. In vitamin D deficient men, vitamin D has an unfavorable effect on central obesity and body composition.

Contemporary and Novel Imaging Studies for the Evaluation of Erectile Dysfunction

Traditionally, it was thought that the pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction (ED) can be divided into psychological and organic factors. However, recent literature supports the development and progression of ED due to multidimensional alterations of a complex interplay of central and peripheral systems, from neural cognitive and efferent networks to loco-regional neuro-hormonal factors which are responsible for impaired penile vascular hemodynamics and ensuing lack of, or suboptimal, blood flow into the penis and/or veno-occlusive dysfunction. It is recognised that ED is strongly correlated with cardiovascular health and published clinical guidelines advocate screening for cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors in men presenting with ED. Over the past few decades, various imaging modalities have been developed and utilised to provide objective evaluation for ED to better characterise the state of penile health and exclude psychogenic components. The following article evaluates current and emerging imaging diagnostic tools for ED.

Visceral-to-subcutaneous fat ratio as a predictor of the multiple metabolic risk factors for subjects with normal waist circumference in Korea.

PurposeVisceral obesity has been recognized as a predictor of metabolic risk factors. However, few studies have evaluated the metabolic risks in subjects with normal waist circumference (WC). We aimed to examine if the visceral-to-subcutaneous fat ratio (VSR) has diagnostic value to identify multiple metabolic risk factors in subjects with normal WC, compared with visceral fat area (VFA) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA).MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study in which we have compared mean VFA, SFA, and VSR according to each metabolic risk factor. We performed a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for VFA, SFA, and VSR to assess their accuracy in picking out two or more non-adipose factors for metabolic syndrome.ResultsFor each metabolic risk factor, mean VSRs were significantly different between groups (risk-absent group vs risk-present group) in men and women, except for men with low high-density lipoprotein. However, mean VFAs and SFAs showed no significant differences between groups. VSR showed superior diagnostic values in predicting at least two non-adipose metabolic risk factors in men and similar diagnostic value in women. Areas under ROC curves for VSR and VFA were 0.705 and 0.649 in men (P=0.028) and 0.798 and 0.785 in women (P=0.321).ConclusionFor men with a normal WC, VSR appeared to effectively predict the presence of multiple metabolic risk factors. Thus, VSR may serve as an indicator for identifying men who have a normal WC and multiple metabolic risk factors.

Sex-specific clustering of metabolic risk factors and their association with incident cardiovascular diseases: A population-based prospective study

Background and aimsWe identified distinct patterns of metabolic risk factors (MRF), and examined their association with subsequent cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. MethodsThe study sample included 8113 participants (45% men) aged ≥30 years. Self-organizing map (SOM) was applied to clustering of five dichotomized MRF in men and women. MRF were included: low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), high fasting plasma glucose (FPG), high total cholesterol (TC), high systolic blood pressure (SBP) and high body mass index (BMI). The association between clusters membership and age, education, smoking status, physical activity level and family history (FH) of premature CVD was estimated using multinomial logistic regression. Cox regression was used to estimate the relation of each cluster with CVD events. ResultsSOM identified seven distinct clusters of MRF in both men and women. About 35 and 44% of men and women, respectively, had ≥3 MRF. Among men, MRF were clustered in those with older age, low physical activity, lower education and FH of premature CVD; while, among women, clustering was observed in past smoker, those with older age and positive FH of premature CVD. In the male population, a cluster with 100% high SBP and high FPG, had the highest risk for CVD events. However, among women, two clusters, each with 100% high FPG, yielded the highest and similar risk for CVD. ConclusionsSOM identified multiple patterns of MRF in the Iranian population. The results may be useful for targeting efforts to promote strategies to reduce the risk of CVD in the Iranian population.

Exercise improves quality of life in androgen deprivation therapy-treated prostate cancer: systematic review of randomised controlled trials.

Men receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer (PCa) are likely to develop metabolic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, abdominal obesity and osteoporosis. Other treatment-related side effects adversely influence quality of life (QoL) including vasomotor distress, depression, anxiety, mood swings, poor sleep quality and compromised sexual function. The objective of this study was to systematically review the nature and effects of dietary and exercise interventions on QoL, androgen deprivation symptoms and metabolic risk factors in men with PCa undergoing ADT. An electronic search of CINAHL, CENTRAL, Medline, PsychINFO and reference lists was performed to identify peer-reviewed articles published between January 2004 and December 2014 in English. Eligible study designs included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with pre- and post-intervention data. Data extraction and assessment of methodological quality with the Cochrane approach was conducted by two independent reviewers. Seven exercise studies were identified. Exercise significantly improved QoL, but showed no effect on metabolic risk factors (weight, waist circumference, lean or fat mass, blood pressure and lipid profile). Two dietary studies were identified, both of which tested soy supplements. Soy supplementation did not improve any outcomes. No dietary counselling studies were identified. No studies evaluated androgen-deficiency symptoms (libido, erectile function, sleep quality, mood swings, depression, anxiety and bone mineral density). Evidence from RCTs indicates that exercise enhances health- and disease-specific QoL in men with PCa undergoing ADT. Further studies are required to evaluate the effect of exercise and dietary interventions on QoL, androgen deprivation symptoms and metabolic risk factors in this cohort.

Association between selenium nutritional status and metabolic risk factors in men with visceral obesity

Background and aimPrevious evidence has suggested an association between selenium and cardiovascular disease, which is main outcome of metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to examine possible correlation between selenium nutritional status and metabolic risk factors in men with visceral obesity. MethodsPlasma samples were collected from 123 Indonesian men with visceral obesity. Their metabolic risk factors and selenium nutritional status were analyzed. The eligible subjects (n=78) were stratified according to the International Diabetes Federation: obese, obese plus one component, and obese plus two components or more. Obese plus two components or more were diagnostic criteria of metabolic syndrome. Pearson's correlation was performed to examine the correlation in each group. ResultsIn the obese group, selenium positively correlated with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (r=0.390, P<0.05) and with fatty acid binding protein-4 (FABP4) (r=0.474, P<0.05); glutathione peroxidase-3 (GPx3) activity was inversely correlated with FABP4 (r=−467, P<0.05). In the obese plus one component group, GPx3 activity positively correlated with HDL cholesterol (r=0.413, P<0.05). In the metabolic syndrome group, selenium negatively correlated with monocytes chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 (r=−0.429, P<0.05). ConclusionsThese results show that the association between selenium nutritional status and metabolic risk factors is limited to particular group of obese men with or without metabolic syndrome.

Visceral Fat Accumulation and Metabolic Risk Factor Clustering in Older Adults

To examine the relationship between visceral fat area (VFA) evaluated using computed tomography (CT) scans and the number of metabolic risk factors in older adults. Cross-sectional study A community clinic in Tokyo, Japan. Two hundred eighteen individuals aged 65 and older without impairments in activities of daily living who underwent geriatric health examination (63 men, mean age 74.5 ± 7.1; 155 women, mean age 75.3 ± 6.7). VFA was obtained from a cross-sectional image at umbilical level in the supine position using CT scanning. Metabolic syndrome components except waist circumference were measured using the criteria of the International Diabetes Federation. There was a positive correlation between VFA and number of metabolic risk factors in men and women. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that only VFA was significantly correlated with number of risk factors in men, whereas age and VFA were significantly correlated in women; body mass index was not correlated with number of metabolic risk factors in men or women. Dyslipidemia and high blood glucose were associated with higher VFA, but high blood pressure was not. There was a negative correlation between VFA and serum adiponectin level and a positive correlation between VFA and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. Visceral fat accumulation is associated with metabolic risk factor clustering even in the elderly population. These results have clinical implications for the management of obesity in older adults.

Anthropometric and Clinical Findings in Obese Japanese: The Saku Control Obesity Program (SCOP)

BACKGROUND: Japan has entered the epidemic of obesity. To clarify the contributing factors to the development of metabolic syndrome triggered by visceral fat obesity and to investigate the effectiveness of a weight-loss program, we launched a new intervention program for obese people. METHODS: Japanese subjects with high body mass index (BMI > 28.3 kg/m²) were selected for a weight-loss program from those who had undergone a medical checkup at the Saku Central Hospital. The baseline anthropometric and clinical findings of the participants were analyzed.RESULTS: At baseline, 235 subjects (116 men and 119 women) participated in this program. The mean weight, waist circumference, and visceral fat area were 86.4 ± 11.8 kg, 101.5 ± 8.7 cm, and 159.0 ± 54.1 cm² in men and 75.2 ± 9.5 kg, 103.7 ± 8.3 cm, and 129.8 ± 47.0 cm² in women, respectively. Using the Japanese diagnostic criteria, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 62.9% in men and 51.3% in women. Leptin, c-peptide, and insulin levels tended to increase with increasing numbers of metabolic risk factors in men. In women, c-peptide and free fatty acid levels tended to increase with increasing numbers of these factors, but adiponectin decreased dose-dependently with increasing numbers of factors. CONCLUSIONS: More than half the subjects were founded to meet the criteria for metabolic syndrome. Immediate intervention to lose weight and to improve other risk factors of metabolic syndrome is necessary in such seriously obese people.

Androgens and Glucuronidated Androgen Metabolites Are Associated with Metabolic Risk Factors in Men

Androgens are associated with metabolic risk factors in men. However, the independent impact of androgens and androgen metabolites on metabolic risk factors in men is unclear. Our objective was to determine the predictive value of serum levels of androgens and glucuronidated androgen metabolites for metabolic risk factors. We conducted a population-based study of two Swedish cohorts (1,068 young adult and 1,001 elderly men). We measured correlation of serum dihydrotestosterone (DHT), testosterone (T), and glucuronidated androgen metabolites with fat mass, fat distribution, serum lipids, and insulin resistance. Both DHT and T were negatively associated with different measures of fat mass in both cohorts (P < 0.001). Further statistical analysis indicated that DHT, but not T, was independently negatively associated with different measures of fat mass and insulin resistance (P < 0.001). The glucuronidated androgen metabolite androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol-17glucuronide (17G) was independently positively associated with fat mass (P < 0.001). Most importantly, the 17G to DHT ratio was strongly correlated, not only with fat mass but also with central fat distribution, intrahepatic fat, disturbed lipid profile, insulin resistance, and diabetes, explaining a substantial part of the total variance in total body fat (12% in young adult men, 15% in elderly men), the homeostasis model assessment index (10%), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (7%). Our findings demonstrate that 17-glucuronidation of the DHT metabolite androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol is strongly associated with several metabolic risk factors in men. Future longitudinal studies are required to determine the possible impact of the 17G to DHT ratio as a metabolic risk factor in men.

Independent associations between liver fat, visceral adipose tissue, and metabolic risk factors in men

The independent associations between liver fat, visceral adipose tissue (AT), and metabolic risk factors are unclear. Although it has been reported that visceral AT is the strongest predictor of metabolic risk, liver fat has also been reported as a strong independent associate of a deleterious metabolic profile. We examined the independent associations between liver fat, visceral AT, and metabolic risk factors in a sample of 293 men varying widely in adiposity. Liver fat and abdominal AT were measured by computed tomography (CT). Univariate analysis revealed that liver fat was associated (p < 0.05) with triglycerides (TG), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and total cholesterol (TC), but not with glucose or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC). Liver fat remained a significant correlate (p < 0.05) of TG and TC after control for age and subcutaneous AT or cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), but not after adjustment for visceral AT alone. Conversely, visceral AT remained significantly associated with TG, SBP, glucose, HDLC (p < 0.01), and TC (p = 0.05) independent of liver fat, subcutaneous AT, CRF, and age. Both liver fat and visceral AT were associated with metabolic risk in men. However, when controlled for each other, visceral AT was the only independent associate of metabolic risk.

Insuline resistance, lipoproteins, body fat and hemostasis in nonobese men with angina and a normal or abnormal coronary angiogram

Objectives. The aim of this study was to compare metabolic risk factors in men with anginal chest and a normal or abnormal coronary angiogram with those in healthy men.Background. Risk factors for coronary heart disease, including lipoprotein abnormalities, hypertension and adiposity, may be metabolically interlinked, with insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia being pivotal to these disturbances,Methods. Glucose and insulin metabolism, lipids and lipoproteins, hemostasis, blood pressure and body fat distribution were measured in 77 nonobese middle-aged men who had anginal chest pain (39 with an abnormal coronary angiogram and 38 with no detectable angiographic abnormality) and were compared with those of 40 healthy men of similar age and body mass index.Results. Patients with chest pain had higher insulin responses to an intravenous glucose challenge, Bower insulin sensitivity, lower high density lipoprotein (HDL) und subfraction 2 cholesterol, lower apolipoprotein AI, higher triglycerides, greater android fat and higher systolic blood pressure at rest compared with levels in healthy control subjects (p < 0.05). Those with an abnormal coronary angiogram had lower tissue plasminogen activator levels, higher plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 levels and more android fat than did those with a normal angiograin (p < 0.05). Insulin sensitivity correlated positively with HDL (p < 0.05) and sebfraction 2 (p< 0.001) cholesterol and negatively with triglycerides (p < 0.01), android fat proportion (p < 0.01) and systolic blood pressure (p < 0.05), whereas insulin response showed converse correlations.Conclusions. These findings provide new evidence of the central role of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia in the development of risk factors associated with coronary heart disease.