PURPOSE: The ratio of serum leptin to adiponectin (L/A ratio) could be used as a marker for insulin resistance. However, few prospective studies have investigated the impact of L/A ratio on improvement of metabolic components in high-risk individuals with metabolic syndrome. We examined the association between L/A ratio and the regression of metabolic syndrome in a population-based longitudinal study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1017 subjects (431 men and 586 women) with metabolic syndrome at baseline (2005–2008) were examined and followed (2008–2011). Baseline serum levels of leptin and adiponectin were analyzed by radioimmunoassay. Area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC) analyses were used to assess the predictive ability of L/A ratio for the regression of metabolic syndrome. RESULTS: During an average of 2.8 years of follow-up, metabolic syndrome disappeared in 142 men (32.9%) and 196 women (33.4%). After multivariable adjustment, the odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for regression of metabolic syndrome in comparisons of the lowest to the highest tertiles of L/A ratio were 1.84 (1.02–3.31) in men and 2.32 (1.37–3.91) in women. In AUROC analyses, L/A ratio had a greater predictive power than serum adiponectin for the regression of metabolic syndrome in both men (p=0.024) and women (p=0.019). CONCLUSION: Low L/A ratio is a predictor for the regression of metabolic syndrome. The L/A ratio could be a useful clinical marker for management of high-risk individuals with metabolic syndrome.
Adiponectin* ; Biomarkers ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Leptin* ; Longitudinal Studies ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Prospective Studies ; Radioimmunoassay ; ROC Curve

PURPOSE: There have been few studies on gender difference in the impact of a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) within the normal range on the risk of hypertension. We evaluated whether the association between the UACR below the microalbuminuria range and the incident risk of hypertension is different between men and women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1173 individuals (442 men and 731 women) aged 40 to 70 years without hypertension was examined at baseline (2005–2008) and followed (2008–2011). We defined the UACR as the amount of albumin (mg/dL) divided by creatinine (g/dL) in randomly voided urine. The subjects were classified according to UACR tertile. RESULTS: During an average of 2.6 years of follow-up, 57 men (12.9%) and 66 women (9.0%) developed hypertension. In multivariable-adjusted models, the odds ratio for new-onset hypertension comparing the highest and lowest tertiles of UACR was 1.83 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.85–3.94] in men and 2.69 (95% CI 1.27–5.73) in women. In stratified analyses by menopausal status, higher tertiles of UACR were associated with an increased risk of incident hypertension in postmenopausal women. CONCLUSION: Higher normal UACR levels were associated with an increased risk of incident hypertension in women. The UACR could have a clinical role in predicting the development of hypertension.
Albuminuria ; Creatinine ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Prospective Studies ; Reference Values*

PURPOSE: There have been few studies on gender difference in the impact of a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) within the normal range on the risk of hypertension. We evaluated whether the association between the UACR below the microalbuminuria range and the incident risk of hypertension is different between men and women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1173 individuals (442 men and 731 women) aged 40 to 70 years without hypertension was examined at baseline (2005–2008) and followed (2008–2011). We defined the UACR as the amount of albumin (mg/dL) divided by creatinine (g/dL) in randomly voided urine. The subjects were classified according to UACR tertile. RESULTS: During an average of 2.6 years of follow-up, 57 men (12.9%) and 66 women (9.0%) developed hypertension. In multivariable-adjusted models, the odds ratio for new-onset hypertension comparing the highest and lowest tertiles of UACR was 1.83 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.85–3.94] in men and 2.69 (95% CI 1.27–5.73) in women. In stratified analyses by menopausal status, higher tertiles of UACR were associated with an increased risk of incident hypertension in postmenopausal women. CONCLUSION: Higher normal UACR levels were associated with an increased risk of incident hypertension in women. The UACR could have a clinical role in predicting the development of hypertension.
Albuminuria ; Creatinine ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Prospective Studies ; Reference Values*

PURPOSE: Although γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) is well known to be associated with metabolic syndrome (MS), prospective data on baseline and longitudinal changes in GGT levels and incident cases of MS are limited. We aimed to examine prospective associations between changes in GGT levels over time, as well as at baseline, and incident MS in Korean adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 2579 Korean adults free of MS were followed up for 2.6 years. Data were collected from 2005–2008 (baseline) and from 2008–2011 (follow-up). Serum GGT levels were determined by enzymatic methods. RESULTS: During follow-up, 558 participants (21.6%) developed MS. A gradual increase in the incidence of MS was observed across GGT quartiles. After adjustment for confounding factors, the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) for new onset MS, comparing the highest to the lowest quartiles of baseline GGT, was 2.07 (95% CI: 1.52–2.80). The odds ratio for the highest GGT changes (>4 IU/L increase) in comparison to the lowest GGT changes (<-5 IU/L decrease) was 1.75 (95% CI: 1.32–2.33). Among participants with baseline GGT concentrations Adult ; Cohort Studies ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Odds Ratio ; Prospective Studies