Metabolic syndrome--risk factors for atherosclerosis and diabetes

To evaluate the lipoprotein profiles, triglycerides and glycemia along with the abdominal fat to explore the risk factors associated with non-diabetic state to IGF, IGT and Type-2 diabetes in Canadian population.

We examined 780 subjects using the ADA and WHO criteria to classify them into groups based on (1) normal glucose tolerance with FBS <6.0 and 2hBS <7.0 mmol/l), (2) IFG; FPG > or =6.1 mmol/l but 2hBS >7.8-11.1 mmol/l; (3) combined IFG/IGT (FPG > or =7.0 mmol/l and 2hBS >11.1 mmol/l). We compared the three groups for glycemia, insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity based on their WHR, abdominal and visceral fat measurements.

The subjects with higher 2 hrs glucose levels 5.2 for NGT vs. 9.1 for IGT and 13.4 mmol/l for NIDDM, p<0.001, apo C-III level (12.8 (DM) vs. 8.9 mg/dl (normal), p<0.001), waist to hip ratio (0.91 (IGT) vs. 0.89 (Normal), p<0.01) and abdominal fat and were found to be highly insulin resistant.

The higher apolipoproteins levels, BMI and abdominal and visceral fat accompanied by poor glycemia were shown to be associated strongly with the metabolic abnormalities. These factors led to the worsening of insulin secretory dysfunction and insulin resistance and were strong predictors of diabetes.