Metabolic Syndrome In Japanese Men Research Articles

Hypoadiponectinemia

Hypertension is a public health challenge of increasing importance because of its high frequency and concomitant risk of cardiovascular and renal disease. It has been estimated that the worldwide prevalence of hypertension was 972 million in 2000, and this number will increase by 60% by the year 2025.1 A large body of evidence indicates that the increasing prevalence of hypertension is sustained by the escalation of overweight and obesity. Actually, most hypertensive patients are also overweight or obese,2 and this may contribute to further deteriorate their cardiovascular risk profile. Similar to hypertension, obesity is independently associated with numerous adverse cardiovascular outcomes, and, most importantly, adipose tissue expansion and hypertension have a synergistic negative impact on cardiovascular prognosis. Hence, the hypertension–obesity pandemic imposes today a considerable burden on societies and healthcare systems that one can reasonably expect to increase further in the next years. The importance of preventing hypertension underscores the critical role of a better understanding of the most common mechanisms underlying its development. The association between obesity and hypertension has been recognized for many decades,2 and an almost linear relation appears between body mass index and systolic and diastolic blood pressures, at least over a body mass index range from 16 to 31 kg/m2.3 Also, risk estimates from the Framingham Heart Study suggest that ≈78% of the hypertension cases in men and 65% in women can be directly attributed to obesity.4 Further evidence for a consistent link between adiposity and hypertension comes from studies showing that weight gain is almost invariably associated with an increase in blood pressure. The increase in blood pressure is closely related to the magnitude of weight gain, and even moderate weight gain is associated with an increased risk of developing hypertension.5 In addition, even modest weight …

Relationship between smoking, white blood cell count and metabolic syndrome in Japanese women

We found that cigarette smoking increased white blood cell count, and individuals which increased white blood cell count more likely to have metabolic syndrome in Japanese men. We investigated whether similar relationship can be observed also in women. We analyzed the data from 16,383 Japanese women who underwent general health screening. Age-adjusted logistic regression analysis showed that current smoking was positively associated with a highest white blood cell count quartile with an odds ratio of 2.40 (95% CI: 2.16–2.68, P < 0.0001). The white blood cell count showed a graded association with metabolic syndrome. On the other hand, the association between current smoking and metabolic syndrome was no longer significant after subdividing the individuals into groups according to the white blood cell quartile. These data collectively suggested that the association between current smoking and metabolic syndrome is heavily confounded by certain factors that increase the circulating white blood cell count in Japanese women, as in men.

Comparison of ventilatory threshold and exercise habits between Japanese men with and without metabolic syndrome

Objective We compared the levels of ventilatory threshold (VT) and exercise habits in subjects with metabolic syndrome with those in age, sex-matched subjects without metabolic syndrome. Methods We used data of 155 Japanese men (47.1 ± 9.2 years) with metabolic syndrome; the diagnosis was given by the definition and the diagnostic standard for metabolic syndrome in Japan. The influence of metabolic syndrome on oxygen uptake, work rate and heart rate at VT, and exercise habits were evaluated. Results Oxygen uptake and work rate at VT in subjects with metabolic syndrome were significantly lower than those in subjects without metabolic syndrome even after adjusting for body mass index (BMI). The number of subjects with exercise habits was significantly lower in metabolic syndrome. The subjects with exercise habits were significantly older than that in subjects without exercise habits. Furthermore, oxygen uptake and work rate at VT were significantly higher in subjects with exercise habits than those in subjects without exercise habits. Conclusion Lower level of VT was characteristic in subjects with metabolic syndrome. Promotion of exercise habits is necessary for preventing and improving metabolic syndrome in Japanese men.

Heart Rate Elevation Precedes the Development of Metabolic Syndrome in Japanese Men: A Prospective Study

This observational study of Japanese men without metabolic syndrome (MetS) (age: 41+/-8 years) was conducted to clarify whether or not heart rate elevation precedes the development of full-blown MetS. MetS was defined based on two modifications of the criteria of the Japanese Expert Committee on the Diagnosis and Classification of Metabolic Syndrome. Premetabolic syndrome subjects were defined as those having one component of MetS with increased body mass index (BMI). Among the subjects without MetS (n=1,859 when the BMI criterion was >or=25 and n=2,020 when the BMI criterion was >or=27.5), the incidence of progression to full-blown MetS by the time of the second examination at the end of the 3-year study period was higher in the subjects with premetabolic syndrome than in those without it. The receiver-operator characteristic curve analysis and binary logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds ratio (OR) of a heart rate >or=69 beats/min at the first examination for progression to full-blown MetS by the time of the second examination was significant in subjects with premetabolic syndrome (BMI>or=25: OR=3.64 [1.22-10.88]; BMI>or=27.5: OR=3.67 [1.28-10.55]; p<0.05). Thus, heart rate elevation appears to precede the development of full-blown MetS in subjects with premetabolic syndrome. Heart rate seems to be a simple and useful marker for predicting the progression to full-blown MetS of middle-aged Japanese men with premetabolic syndrome.

Two New Criteria of the Metabolic Syndrome: Prevalence and the Association with Brachial‐Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity in Japanese Male Workers

In 1998 and 2001, The World Health Organization and the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III proposed working criteria for the metabolic syndrome (MS), but they are not perfect for use in diverse ethnicities. In 2005, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and eight societies in Japan respectively proposed new criteria. However, there has been no report regarding the application of these new criteria in Japanese workplaces. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 377 healthy Japanese men aged 20-64 yr who worked in a chemical factory in Kanagawa, Japan. Participants completed a self-reported questionnaire, underwent a physical examination including waist measurements and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), and provided overnight fasting blood samples. The prevalence of MS in Japanese men was 17.0% and 13.5% according to the new IDF and Japanese criteria respectively. In both of the new criteria, baPWV was significantly higher in those with MS than those without MS (1,563 +/- 264.2 vs 1,362 +/- 204.6 cm/sec, p<0.001 in the new IDF criterion; 1,574 +/- 265.2 vs 1,368 +/- 209.1 cm/sec, p<0.001 in the Japanese criterion). In the analysis of the 5 or 6 subgroups stratified according to the number of MS components, baPWV increased significantly with increasing number of MS components (p for trend<0.01 in both criteria). The new IDF and Japanese criterion are both good for diagnosing MS among Japanese because a linear increase in baPWV occurred with increasing MS components after adjustment for potential confounding factors. Further studies are expected using these new criteria.

Association Between Smoking, Hematological Parameters, and Metabolic Syndrome in Japanese Men

Cigarette smoking increases the risk for metabolic syndrome (1), and it may also affect hematological parameters (2). Because certain hematological parameters may be associated with metabolic syndrome (3), we have investigated whether the mode of association between smoking and metabolic syndrome varies according to hematological parameters. Among individuals who had undergone a general heath screening test between 1994 and 2003, 27,972 subjects (9,729 never smokers [52.8 ± 10.7 years], 7,242 former smokers [54.8 ± 9.9 years], and 11,001 current …

Comparison of Circulating Adiponectin and Proinflammatory Markers Regarding Their Association With Metabolic Syndrome in Japanese Men

Anti-inflammatory and proinflammatory molecules purportedly play an important role in developing metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, little is known as to the relative importance of these molecules in the association with MetS. We studied 624 middle-aged Japanese men without medical history of cardiovascular disease or cancer and investigated the associations of circulating tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and adiponectin with MetS. We used the respective definitions proposed by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP-III), the International Diabetes Federation, and the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine. Decreased serum adiponectin was observed in those with any of the ATP-III-MetS components, whereas this was not the case with increased TNF-alpha, IL-6, or CRP. Adiponectin and CRP levels linearly deteriorated with an increasing number of ATP-III-MetS components (trend P<0.001, respectively). Significantly higher CRP and lower adiponectin levels were observed in those who met any MetS criteria, whereas increased TNF-alpha was observed in only those with ATP-III-MetS. Finally, odds ratios (ORs) for MetS prevalence of a 1-SD increase/decrease in log-transformed 4 markers were calculated with multivariate logistic regression analyses. Consequently, decreased adiponectin was associated most strongly with ATP-III-MetS (adiponectin: OR, 1.90 [95% CI, 1.44 to 2.51]; P<0.001; CRP: OR, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.01 to 1.74]; P=0.03; TNF-alpha: OR, 1.25 [95% CI, 0.94 to 1.67]; P=0.12; and IL-6: OR, 0.87 [95% CI, 0.63 to 1.19]; P=0.37). This result was not altered by using the other 2 criteria. The present results raise the possibility that decreased serum adiponectin might be fundamentally involved in the development of MetS.

Metabolic syndrome in Japanese men and women with special reference to the anthropometric criteria for the assessment of obesity: Proposal to use the waist-to-height ratio

Backgrounds. Obesity is one of the criteria for defining metabolic syndrome. However, overt obesity in Asians is relatively low despite high prevalence of metabolic risks. Methods. We investigated the effectiveness of various anthropometric indices {body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio (W/Ht)} for the evaluation of coronary risk factors (hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and low HDL cholesterol) and as one of the criteria for metabolic syndrome (clustering of three or more from one obesity and four coronary risk factors) in Japanese on 6141 men and 2137 women. Results. (1) The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for the different anthropometric indices to identify any one and two or more coronary risk factors were highest for W/Ht. (2) The sensitivities for the identification of any one and two or more coronary risk factors were greater for W/Ht ≥0.5 than BMI ≥25, ≥23, and indices of waist circumference (Adult Treatment Panel III and Japan Society for the Study of Obesity). (3) The prevalence of metabolic syndrome varied greatly by different anthropometric indices, and the percentages of obesity risk factors in metabolic syndrome were highest for W/Ht ≥0.5 in both genders (approximate 95%). Conclusions. W/Ht ≥0.5 may be the most effective anthropometric index for screening Japanese people for metabolic syndrome.

Association of white blood cell count and clustered components of metabolic syndrome in Japanese men.

The role of inflammation in the genesis of cardiovascular disease has attracted attention and in the present study the association among metabolic syndrome (MS), white blood cell (WBC) count, and insulin concentration was investigated. A cross-sectional study of 3,594 Japanese men aged 34-69 years evaluated the MS components (high blood pressure, hypo-high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperglycemia), as defined by the criteria given in the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults, except for obesity [body mass index (BMI) >/=25 kg/m(2)]. WBC count had a positive correlation with BMI, blood pressure, triglyceride, glucose and insulin, and a negative correlation with HDL-cholesterol. The multi-adjusted means of WBC count and insulin concentration were significantly higher in MS subjects defined as having 3 or more of the components than in non-MS subjects with no more than 2 components. Both means also increased with the number of MS components (p<0.001 for trend). In the multiple linear regression analysis, BMI, HDL-cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, glucose and triglyceride had a significant and independent association with WBC count, but the insulin concentration did not. The cluster of MS components based on insulin resistance may cause low-grade inflammation.