Impact of different metabolic syndrome classifications on the metabolic syndrome prevalence in a young Middle Eastern population.

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) prevalence in a young Middle Eastern population has never been studied. We studied this prevalence in a randomly selected population of Lebanese students using different MetS classifications. Three hundred eighty-one subjects aged 18 to 30 years were included in the study. Anthropometric and biological parameters (waist circumference [WC], systolic and diastolic blood pressures, fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and homeostasis model assessment [HOMA] index to assess insulin resistance) were measured. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to determine population-specific cutoff values for MetS parameters and HOMA index. The MetS prevalence was calculated using the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP-III), the actualized ATP-III, and our cutoffs, either with or without HOMA index as an extra risk factor. The MetS prevalence using the ATP-III and the actualized ATP-III was, respectively, 5.25% and 5.28%. It increased to 9.19% when using our cutoff values and to 12.64% when HOMA index was added. This increase was significant only in men. The identified cutoff values are, for WC, 91 cm in women and 99.5 cm in men and, for HOMA index, 2.32. Among the MetS components, WC was the best MetS predictor, whereas fasting plasma glucose was the poorest. Our study shows that the MetS prevalence in Lebanon is comparable with other countries. In addition, we identified in our population new cutoff points for MetS parameters and HOMA index that allow the detection of a higher number of subjects with the MetS, mainly in the male population.

Vitamin D in relation to metabolic risk factors, insulin sensitivity and adiponectin in a young Middle-Eastern population.

OBJECTIVES: Several studies suggest a link between circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and metabolic risk factors. However, this relation has been mainly studied in elderly and/or obese subjects. In addition, the relation between 25(OH)D and adiponectin is unclear. The purpose of this study is to look at these relations in non-obese young individuals. DESIGN: We investigated the relation between serum 25(OH)D and adiposity, blood pressure, glucose metabolism, lipid profile, and adiponectin in 381 randomly selected university students (201 males and 180 females, mean age 23.9+/-3.9). RESULTS: In the overall population, 25(OH)D is significantly inversely correlated with body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), waist circumference (WC), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), insulin levels, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA index) and positively correlated with adiponectin and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (P<0.01 for all variables). In males, these correlations are still significant for BMI, SBP, WC, and adiponectin (P=0.02, P=0.01, P=0.04 and P=0.01 respectively); also, 25(OH)D is inversely correlated with low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (P=0.007). In females, 25(OH)D is only inversely correlated with FPG and HOMA index (P<0.001 and P=0.03 respectively). In multivariate regression analysis models, after adjustment for sex and BMI, 25(OH)D is an independent predictor of FPG and SBP (P=0.032 and P=0.05 respectively) in the overall population, while in males 25(OH)D is a predictor of LDL-cholesterol and SBP independently of BMI (P=0.007 and P=0.035 respectively). CONCLUSION: In non-obese young subjects, we observe new relationships between 25(OH)D and several metabolic risk factors and adiponectin. Further research is needed to elucidate the gender differences and to look at the relation between 25(OH)D and adiponectin.