Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in overweight and obese Filipino adolescents based on the IDF definition / Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies

OBJECTIVE:This study determined the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in overweight and obese Filipino adolescents.METHODOLOGY: A total of 350 overweight and obese Filipino adolescents (aged 10 to 18 years, 206 males and 144 females) referred to pediatric endocrine clinics in Metro Manila were included. Weight, height, waist and blood pressure were measured and fasting lipid profiles, blood glucose and insulin were determined. MetS is defined as presence of three out of five clinical features: central obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL-C level and hypertension. The prevalence of MetS was determined based on the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definition.RESULTS: The overall prevalence of MetS in overweight and obese adolescents was 19%. Among participants, 98% had abdominal adiposity, 25% hypertension, 24% hypertriglyceridemia, 17% low HDL and 12% hyperglycemia; 67% had hyperinsulinemia (>15 uU/ml) and 70% had insulin resistance based on HOMA-IR (?3). Among those with MetS, 14% had 3 components and 5% had 4 components; the prevalence of hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance rose to 79% and 90%, respectively, with high mean levels of serum insulin (31.3 ?U/ml) and HOMA-IR (7.7).CONCLUSION: Overweight and obese adolescents are at risk to develop MetS. The prevalence of hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance is high.

Urinary iodide levels in term newborns and their mothers--a pilot study.

Although the Philippines is considered an iodine-deficient country, there are no documented iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) among newborns screened to be positive for congenital hypothyroidism. The objectives of this pilot study were: (1) to determine the levels of urinary iodide (UI) in normal term newborns and their mothers, and (2) to correlate the UI levels of newborns with that of their mothers. This study included 44 pairs of full term newborns and their mothers who delivered at two hospitals in Manila last July 2001. UI determination by the Rapid Urinary Iodide Test was done during the first 24 hours after delivery. Results showed that eighteen percent (8/44) of the neonates were iodine deficient (<10 microg/dl), 71% (31/44) had adequate UI levels (>10-30microg/dl) and 11% (5/44) had high UI levels (>30microg/dl). None of the mothers had deficient UI levels. Among the neonates who had deficient UI levels, 50% (4/8) of the mothers had adequate UI levels and the other half (4/8) had high levels. Among the neonates who had adequate UI levels, most mothers had high UI levels (22/31 or 71%) and the rest (9/31 or 29%) had adequate UI. All newborns with high UI levels had mothers with high UI levels. Screening for Congenital Hypothyroidism was negative in all the neonates who underwent newborn screening (39/44). In conclusion, most term neonates (82%) had adequate to high UI levels, and 18% had deficient UI levels despite adequate maternal levels. In case of low UI level, repeat determination is advised. If the level remains low, newborn screening using TSH is useful to rule out hypothyroidism. A bigger multicenter study to determine the incidence of IDD in neonates and infants is recommended.