Humans ; Metabolic Syndrome ; prevention & control

A cluster of certain metabolic abnormalities has been recognized as metabolic syndrome, which is characterized by resistance to insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, glucose intolerance, hyperinsulinemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypo- HDL cholesterolemia (HDL-C) and hypertension, with or without hyperglycemia. These multiple metabolic disorders put a person at high risk for cardiovascular disease. With the goal to eliminate all adverse consequences of multiple metabolic disorders, the optimal approach would be through its prevention. Since visceral obesity has been proposed as the most important determinant of multiple metabolic disorders by the International Diabetes Federation and the Japanese Association of Internal Medicine in 2005, health practitioners were thrown into confusion to use any definitions of metabolic syndrome. The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has decided to introduce a new policy for the prevention of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus from April 2008. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare conducts to establish a screening system and guidance of the metabolic syndrome. We review the history and concept of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and central obesity, pathophysiology and definition, and countermeasures against the metabolic syndrome, to improve the community health care system for the metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.
Syndrome ; seconds ; Metabolic Diseases ; Health ; Prevention

Adolescent ; Child ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Metabolic Syndrome ; diagnosis ; prevention & control

Cardiovascular Diseases ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Metabolic Syndrome

China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Metabolic Syndrome ; epidemiology ; prevention & control

Cardiovascular Diseases ; complications ; prevention & control ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Metabolic Syndrome ; complications ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVE: To compare the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MS) using 3 working definitions proposed respectively by the World Health Organization (WHO, 1999) , the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults ( ATP III, 2001 ), and the Chinese Diabetes Society ( CDS, 2003). METHODS: MS was diagnosed in 739 male medical examinees by the 3 working definitions respectively, then the prevalence and the concordance of 3 working definitions was compared. RESULTS: Among 739 participants the prevalence was 36.9% by the WHO definition, 11.8% by the ATP III definition and 21.0% by the CDS definition. Among all the testees 68.6% were classified as either having or not having the MS under the 3 definitions. The consistency in the diagnosis of MS was 72.5% by the WHO definition and the ATP III definition, 81.2% by the WHO definition and the CDS definition, and 83.5% by the ATP III definition and the CDS definition. The prevalence of insulin resistance was the highest among the components of the WHO definition. The prevalence of hypertension was the highest while the prevalence of obesity was the lowest by the ATP III definition. Among the components of the CDS definition, the prevalence of obesity was the highest. The fasting insulin and insulin resistant index (HOMA-IR) were both significantly higher in the MS subjects than that in the non-MS subjects. CONCLUSION A universally accepted definition of the metabolic syndrome is needed.
Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Metabolic Syndrome ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Prevalence ; Reference Standards

Obesity is a leading risk factor for insulin resistance, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular complications, collectively referred to as metabolic diseases. Given the prevalence of obesity and its associated medical problems, new strategies are required to prevent or treat obesity and obesity-related metabolic effects. Here we summarize contributors of obesity, and molecular mechanisms controlling adipogenesis from studies in mammalian systems. We also discuss the possibilities of using Drosophila as a genetic model system to advance our understanding of players in fat biology.
Animals ; Drosophila/*physiology ; Humans ; Metabolic Syndrome X/*etiology/metabolism/prevention & control ; Obesity/*complications/metabolism/prevention & control ; PPAR gamma/metabolism/physiology

BACKGROUND: Physical activity is reported to prevent metabolic syndrome. However, it is unclear whether exercise or daily physical activity is more beneficial for residents of semi-mountainous areas. This study aimed to identify whether daily physical activity is more beneficial than exercise for the prevention of metabolic syndrome among middle-aged and older residents in semi-mountainous areas. METHODS: We analyzed secondary data of 636 people who underwent a specific health checkup in a semi-mountainous area of Japan. Physical activity was classified into four types: inactivity (I-type; without exercise and without daily physical activity), only exercise (E-type; with exercise and without daily physical activity), only daily physical activity (D-type; without exercise and with daily physical activity), and full physical activity type (F-type; with exercise and with daily physical activity). We compared the means of risk factors for metabolic syndrome by these four types, followed by logistic regression analysis, to identify whether and to what extent the D-type was less likely to have metabolic syndrome than the E-type. RESULTS: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 28.5% (men 45.7%, women 15.8%). The proportions of men with exercise and daily physical activity were 38.7% and 52.8%, respectively. For women, the proportions were 33.0% and 47.1%, respectively. In women, the D-type had the significantly lowest BMI, smallest waist circumference, highest HDL-C, and lowest prevalence of metabolic syndrome of the four types; the same was not observed in men. Additionally, D-type activity was more strongly associated with a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome than E-type activity in women (adjusted odds ratio 0.24; 95% confidence interval 0.06-0.85, P = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS Compared to middle-aged and older women residents with exercise in a semi-mountainous area of Japan, those with daily physical activity may effectively prevent metabolic syndrome.
Adult ; Aged ; Altitude ; Exercise ; Female ; Humans ; Japan/epidemiology* ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome/prevention & control* ; Middle Aged ; Rural Population/statistics & numerical data*

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; prevention & control ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Metabolic Syndrome ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Phytotherapy