Associations between White Blood Cell Count and Features of the Metabolic Syndrome

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The proinflammatory state is considered to be a risk factor for develop atherosclerosis. Recently, certain components of the metabolic syndrome have been related to inflammatory markers. The purpose of this study was to assess the association of white blood cell (WBC) count with different components of the metabolic syndrome (MS). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We performed this study to investigate the relationships of white blood cell count, uric acid, and C-reactive protein (CRP) to components of metabolic syndrome (MS), such as abdominal obesity, elevated triglyceride, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), high blood pressure, and impaired fasting glucose in 3134 koreans. RESULTS: WBC count, uric acid, and CRP were associated with several components of MS. WBC count increased, as did the number of MS. CONCLUSION: Our data suggests an association between the metabolic syndrome and WBC count.