ABSTRACT
Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is diagnosed in an individual if any three of the five risk factors formetabolic syndrome are present. These five risk factors are elevated waist circumference, blood pressure,fasting blood glucose, serum triglyceride and lowered high density lipoprotein. Although the long term naturalevolution of MS has been reported yet there is insufficient research on the changes in risk factors of MSafter one year of diagnosis.Objective: To evaluate changes in risk factors of metabolic syndrome after one year of its identification inyoung college going students of an urban Northern India populationMaterial and method: Height, weight, body mass index and various risk factors for metabolic syndromesuch as waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, triglycerides and High Density Lipoproteinwere assessed at baseline and after one year. International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used toobjectively assess physical activity levels of the participants.Results: Out of 88 participants, 16 participants were diagnosed with MS at baseline but after one year thenumber reduced to 8.Percentage decrease in triglyceride levels (13.5%) was maximum followed by decline in waist circumference(8.9%) fasting blood glucose showed an increase by 6.6%. However, HDL, blood pressure, weight and BMIshowed no significant change after one year.70.6% of participants showed reduction in WC followed by reduction in fasting blood glucose of and triglyceridelevels of 66.7% participants. Elevation of HDL levels was observed in 38.5% of the participants. Thus therewas least improvement in HDL in the study population after one year. The increase in IPAQ physical activityscores after one year as compared to baseline was not statistically significant but the total sitting andaverage sitting time showed a statistically significant decline after one year.Conclusion: The incidence of MS shows a 49.7% decline after one year even when no specific dietary orphysical activity advise is given to the participants. Although mean values of triglycerides showed the largestdecrease after one year yet decline in waist circumference was seen in maximum percentage of participants.There was least improvement in HDL in the study population after one year.
ABSTRACT
Background: Obesity is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis, which can be mediated by an increase in angiogenesis and inflammation. The objective of the present study was to explore the relationship between BMI and levels of VEGF, a circulating biomarker of angiogenesis.Methods: 225 healthy volunteers in the age group of >18 years formed the subjects of the study. Individuals with any acute or chronic illness including history of HT, DM, and smoking, alcohol or drug abuse or on any long term medication were excluded from the study. Anthropometric measurements were taken, and BMI calculated. Blood samples were taken, and serum levels of VEGF were estimated using commercially available ELISA kits. Student’s ‘t’ test was done for comparison and correlation was assessed using Pearson’s method.Results: A statistically significant difference in the levels of VEGF was found in subjects with BMI < 25 kg/m2 as compared to subjects with BMI > 25 kg/m2 (p<0.001). A significant positive correlation was found between the levels of VEGF and BMI in both males and female subjects of the study group (r=0.68 and 0.73 respectively).Conclusions: The positive correlation of levels of VEGF with BMI in the healthy subjects of the study group may be related to the expansion of adipose tissue and to the concomitant formation of new vessels to support tissue deposition. These factors may predispose an individual to an increased risk of atherosclerotic damage later in life. VEGF may therefore, have a potential as a biomarker for the prediction of cardiovascular risk and estimation may allow intervening with lifestyle modifications and nutritional changes before the disease is manifested and pharmacotherapy is required.