Living in the Southern Hemisphere: Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components in Amazonian Riverine Populations

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) epidemic is a global challenge. Although developing countries (including Brazil, India, and South Africa) present a higher proportion of deaths by cardiovascular diseases than developed countries, most of our knowledge is from these developed countries. Amazonian riverine populations (ARP), as well as other vulnerable populations of the Southern Hemisphere, share low-income and traditional practices, among other features. This large cross-sectional study of ARP (n = 818) shows high prevalence of hypertension (51%) and obesity (23%). MetS was diagnosed in 38% of participants (especially in women and 60-69 years-old individuals) without the influence of ancestry. Only 7-8% of adults had no cardio-metabolic abnormalities related to MetS. Atherogenic dyslipidemia (low HDL-cholesterol) was generally observed, including in individuals without MetS. Still, slight differences were detected between settings with a clear predominance of hypertension in Tucuruí. Hypotheses on possible genetic influence and factors (nutrition transition and environmental pollutants -mercury) are proposed for future studies. Moreover, a roadmap to MetS progression based on the most prevalent components is provided for the development of tailored interventions in the Amazon (initially, individuals would present low HDL-cholesterol levels, later progressing to increased blood pressure characterizing hypertension, and ultimately reaching MetS with obesity). Our alarming results support the need to improve our knowledge on these vulnerable populations.