Metabolic Syndrome In Koreans Research Articles

Nutrient Intakes Are Associated With Metabolic Syndrome in Korean

This study was carried out to examine the association of dietary factors with metabolic syndrome in Korean at high risk for metabolic abnormalities. Metabolic syndrome (MS) was defined according to NCEP-ATP III criteria except central obesity and Asia-Pacific Area criteria for central obesity. The MS group was composed of 86 men and women and 86 controls without MS. Information regarding age, occupation, dietary behavior, and health related lifestyles were obtained with a personal interviews and dietary intakes were collected with 4 day food record. Comparing with those in the lowest quartile, the risks of metabolic syndrome in the highest and second highest quartile of total energy, phosphorus, iron, folate, and fiber intake were significantly increased(p<0.05). Despite the limitation of the cross-sectional study design, the results imply that excessive nutrient intakes may increase the risk of metabolic syndrome in Koreans. (This study was supported by a grant of the Seoul R&BD Program, Republic of Korea(10526) and the Brain Korea 21 Project in 2007.)

Do Health Behaviors Moderate the Effect of Socioeconomic Status on Metabolic Syndrome?

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the effect of socioeconomic factors on metabolic syndrome is influenced by such covariates as health behavior and psychosocial factors. This study used data collected from 4400 households during the 2001 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A stratified multistage probability sampling method was applied and the final sample included 6601 subjects older than 20 years who had completed necessary health examinations. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Koreans was 25.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 23.8-27.2) for men and 28.7% (95% CI, 27.2-30.2) for women. Analysis of moderator effects showed that interactions between education and smoking or exercise status and between income and alcohol or smoking status were significant. The significance of the interaction terms indicates that health behavior and psychosocial factors modified the relationship between socioeconomic factors and metabolic syndrome. Results of this study provide evidence that such behaviors as smoking, drinking alcohol, and insufficient exercise contribute to the incidence of metabolic syndrome. Changes to higher socioeconomic status may not reduce the odds of metabolic syndrome unless behavior also is adapted.

Relationship Between Metabolic Syndrome and Familial History of Hypertension/Stroke, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease

This research analyzes the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in Korea and examines how the presence of a familial history of diseases related to MS, such as hypertension/stroke, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, affect the development of MS in Koreans. The prevalence of MS and its components, as defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel guidelines, were evaluated in nationally representative samples of non-institutionalized civilian Koreans. This analysis is based on the 2001 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which used a stratified multistage probability sampling design. The final study included 5,742 adults who had completed the necessary health examinations and met the diagnosis of MS. The prevalence of MS was 25.5% in men and 28.7% in women. Odds ratio for MS among men with a familial history of hypertension/stroke was higher than that among men who did not have this history. The OR for MS among women with a familial history of hypertension/stroke or diabetes was higher than that among women who had no familial history of these diseases. These results show that familial history of hypertension/stroke and diabetes was significantly related to the presence of MS in both young men and women.

Spousal Concordance of Metabolic Syndrome in 3141 Korean Couples: A Nationwide Survey

Epidemiologic data from various regions have shown familial correlations of cardiovascular risk factors and the metabolic syndrome (MES), but not spousal concordance that reflects shared environmental factors, which we describe in a Korean general population. We selected 3141 couples; both partners of all couples had completed a national health examination. MES was determined according to National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel-III (NCEP ATP-III) definitions, except for waist circumference, where Asian cutoffs were used. For each MES component, unadjusted and age-adjusted spousal correlations and spousal concordance, were calculated, using logistic regression analysis after adjustment for spousal ages. There were strong positive spousal correlations for each component of the MES, even after adjustment for age. Significant spousal concordance of MES was also observed. Men whose wives had MES had 1.29 (95%CI, 1.07-1.57) times higher risk of having MES, compared to those whose wives did not. Women whose husbands had MES were also at 1.32 (95% CI, 1.09-1.61) times higher risk of having the MES. There was significant spousal concordance of the MES in Koreans, which implies shared environmental factors contribute to the development of the MES. Targeting screening or disease prevention measures of partners of people with the MES may be beneficial.