Metabolic syndrome in normoglycaemic elderly men

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Metabolic Health
• Geriatric Medicine

Background:

• Type-2 diabetes involves complex metabolic defects across multiple organs, termed the 'ominous octet'.
• Understanding the relationship between normoglycemia and metabolic syndrome (MetS) is crucial for managing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels within the normoglycemic range and the prevalence of MetS in elderly men.
• To elucidate the intricate relationships between normoglycemia and MetS components in a medication-free cohort.

Main Methods:

• Enrolled 6679 male subjects aged 65+ in Taiwan with FPG < 100 mg/dl, excluding those on MetS-affecting medications.
• Categorized subjects into three FPG tertiles: < 91 mg/dl (tertile 1), 92-95 mg/dl (tertile 2), and > 95 mg/dl (tertile 3).

Main Results:

• A significant trend (p = 0.009) showed increased MetS prevalence with higher FPG tertiles.
• All MetS components and LDL-C positively correlated with FPG; HDL-C became non-significant in multiple regression.
• Subjects in the highest FPG tertile (FPG3) had significantly higher odds ratios (ORs = 1.19) for MetS compared to the lowest (FPG1).

Conclusions:

• Elevated FPG within the normoglycemic range is associated with a higher risk of developing MetS in elderly men.
• Stricter FPG control in normoglycemic individuals may be beneficial for preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD).
• Further research is warranted to confirm these findings and their clinical implications for CVD prevention.