Metabolic syndrome management

The Effect of Therapeutic Doses of Culinary Spices in Metabolic Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) place a significant burden on global health and the healthcare systems which support it. Metabolic syndrome is a major risk factor for a large number of NCDs; however, treatments remain limited. Previous research has shown the protective benefits of edible dietary spices on key components of metabolic syndrome. Therefore we performed a 12-week double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, clinical trial to evaluate the effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale), cinnamon (Cinnamomum), and black seed (Nigella sativa) consumption on blood glucose, lipid profiles, and body composition in 120 participants with, or at risk of, metabolic syndrome. Each participant consumed 3 g/day of powder (spice or placebo). Data related to different parameters were collected from participants at the baseline, midpoint, and endpoint of the intervention. Over the 12-week interventions, there was an improvement in a number of biochemical indices of metabolic syndrome, including fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, LCL, and total cholesterol associated with supplementation with the spices when compared to a placebo. This study provides evidence to support the adjunct use of supplementation for those at risk of metabolic syndrome and its sequelae.

Sex and Age Differences in Association between Physical Activity and Metabolic Syndrome: Results from NHANES 2003-2006

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether and how sex and age modify the association between accelerometer-based physical activity (PA) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) among American (US) adults.

METHOD

Adults aged ≥20 years old who participated in the mobile center examination during 2003-2006 in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included for analysis. The total minutes per day of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) was estimated using ActiGraph. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of having MetS at an increasing MVPA time. The modification effects of gender and age on the association between MetS and MVPA time were examined by testing for two-way and three-way interaction terms of MVPA time, sex, and age in the model after adjusting for relevant covariates.

RESULTS

The prevalence of MetS generally decreased with the MVPA time and was lower in females than in males, although the sex difference varied across age groups. After adjusting for demographic and lifestyle covariates, there was a significant sex difference in how an increased MVPA time lowered the odds of MetS. This interactive effect also varied with age. MVPA benefitted young and middle-age populations up until about 65 years old for both sexes, and the protective effect weakened with age. Although the effect of MVPA was stronger for males than females at young ages, the rate at which it attenuated was quicker in males. The OR of MetS between males and females per unit change of MVPA time was 0.73 (95% CI: [0.57, 0.93]) at age = 25 years, compared to OR = 1.00 (95% CI: [0.88, 1.16]) at age = 60 years. Before the age of 50, the gender difference in the protective effect on MetS was larger at low MVPA levels and became smaller at higher MVPA levels. The male advantage was quite stable with an increasing MVPA time for ages 50-60, and no longer significant at older ages.

CONCLUSIONS

Young and middle-age populations benefitted from MVPA, lowering the risk of MetS for both sexes. A longer MVPA time was associated with a greater decrease in the risk of MetS in young men than in women, but the sex difference reduced with age and was no longer apparent in older populations.

Nutritional implications in the mechanistic link between the intestinal microbiome, renin-angiotensin system, and the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome

Obesity and metabolic disorders represent a significant global health problem and the gut microbiota plays an important role in modulating systemic homeostasis. Recent evidence shows that microbiota and its signaling pathways may affect the whole metabolism and the Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS), which in turn seems to modify microbiota. The present review aimed to investigate nutritional implications in the mechanistic link between the intestinal microbiome, renin-angiotensin system, and the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome components. A description of metabolic changes was obtained based on relevant scientific literature. The molecular and physiological mechanisms that impact the human microbiome were addressed, including the gut microbiota associated with obesity, diabetes, and hepatic steatosis. The RAS interaction signaling and modulation were analyzed. Strategies including the use of prebiotics, symbiotics, probiotics, and biotechnology may affect the gut microbiota and its impact on human health.

The Role of Bioactive Compounds from Dietary Spices in the Management of Metabolic Syndrome: An Overview

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a combination of physiologically dysregulated parameters that can include elevated fasting blood glucose, high blood pressure, central obesity, increased triglyceride levels, insulin resistance, diabetes, elevated low density lipoprotein levels, and reduced high density lipoprotein levels in the blood. Effective clinical management of MetS is critical as it is strongly associated with long lasting and fatal complications in patients. Alongside standard care of lifestyle changes and medication, dietary supplements derived from herbal resources could be an alternative therapeutic strategy that is safe, efficient, culturally acceptable, and has few side effects. Of the dietary supplements, spicy foods have always been considered a great source of functional bioactive compounds. Herbal therapy is broadly used in many countries as a treatment or as a preventive measure in the management of MetS risk factors, including blood glucose, blood pressure, and blood lipid levels. Herein, an attempt is made to evaluate the recent studies in the management of MetS with herbal alternatives, and to explore the possibility of their use as therapeutic treatments or supplements.

The effect of the electronic platform of menopausal health screen system and counseling intervention on the empowerment of menopausal women: a quasi-experimental study

This article explores the efficacy of the electronic platform of menopausal health screen system (EPMHSS) and counseling intervention on the empowerment of menopausal women, seventy four participants were randomly assigned to this study. The intervention group significantly relieved menopausal disturbance, reduced uncertainty, increased health behaviors, and decreased waist circumference after the fourth and eighth week compared with the control group. Our results proved that EPMHSS and counseling would help menopausal women to become more aware of their health, as a result, effectively empowered themselves to take actions for improving their health.

Factors Associated with Dietary Control and Physical Activity in the Management of Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Menopausal Women

The increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among menopausal women necessitates successful management strategies such as applying dietary restrictions and engaging in physical activity to improve their health and quality of life. We investigate factors associated with dietary control and physical activity in 564 menopausal Korean women classified as having MetS who partook in the 2016 and 2017 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). To determine socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle features, and MetS-related characteristics associated with dietary control and physical activity, multiple logistic regression analysis was performed. Of the women with MetS 36.1% applied diet control and 39.5% engaged in physical activity. Women who applied dietary control strategies to improve their health were more likely to be in the 40–49 age group (odds ratio (OR): 3.38; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.25–9.18), to engage in physical activity (OR: 2.24; CI: 1.43–3.52), and to take hypertension medication (OR: 1.66; CI: 1.04–2.67) or diabetes mellitus medication (OR: 2.99; CI: 1.80–4.97). Physically active menopausal women with MetS were more likely to also engage in dieting (OR: 2.32; CI: 1.42–3.51). Accordingly, suggestions can be provided to healthcare workers in designing, not only individual approaches to lifestyle modification but also comprehensive interventions including dietary control and physical activity for menopausal MetS women. Health-care interventions like dietary control, which provide additional support to vulnerable MetS women, should target women aged 60 or above or those who do not take medicines for hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

Risk factors associated with liver steatosis and fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B patient with component of metabolic syndrome

Background

We investigated whether metabolic syndrome exacerbated the risk of liver fibrosis among chronic hepatitis B patients and risk factors associated with liver steatosis and fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B patients with components of metabolic syndrome.

Methods

This study included 1236 chronic hepatitis B patients with at least one component of metabolic syndrome. The controlled attenuation parameter and liver stiffness, patient information and relevant laboratory data were recorded.

Results

Controlled attenuation parameter was increased progressively with the number of metabolic syndrome components (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis indicated younger age, high gamma-glutamyltransferase level, high waist-hip ratio, and high body mass index were independent risk factors associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease among chronic hepatitis B patients with metabolic syndrome. In the fibrosis and non-fibrosis groups, most of blood lipid was relatively lower in fibrosis group. An increased proportion of chronic hepatitis B patients with liver fibrosis was found concomitant with an increasing number of components of metabolic syndrome. Male gender, older age, smoking, aspartate aminotransferase levels, high body mass index, and low platelet level were identified as independent risk factors associated with liver fibrosis.

Conclusions

For chronic hepatitis B patients with coexisting components of metabolic syndrome, stratification by independent risk factors for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and fibrosis can help with management of their disease.

Comparison of fibrate, ezetimibe, low- and high-dose statin therapy for the dyslipidemia of the metabolic syndrome in a mouse model

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The treatment-of-choice for the optimal management of the dyslipidemia of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) is not clearly defined. We compared the efficacy of 4 drug regimes for the management of this dyslipidemia in a mouse model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 60 C57Bl6 mice comprised the study group. The first 10 received standard mouse food for the whole experiment (control group). The remaining 50 mice received atherogenic diet for 14 weeks until the development of the MetS. The mice were then divided into 5 groups: the 1st group continued receiving atherogenic diet, while the other 4 groups received atherogenic diet plus ezetimibe (10 mg/kg per day), fenofibrate (100 mg/kg per day), low-dose atorvastatin (10 mg/kg per day), or high-dose (40 mg/kg per day) atorvastatin, respectively, for another 8 weeks.

RESULTS

High-dose atorvastatin treatment achieved the best lipid profile compared with low-dose atorvastatin, ezetimibe, and fibrate therapy. The lipid profile of mice receiving atherogenic diet plus high-dose atorvastatin treatment was similar with mice on regular chow.

CONCLUSIONS

High-dose atorvastatin treatment resulted in optimization of the lipid profile in the presence of a high-fat atherogenic diet in a mouse model. Our results suggest that high-dose atorvastatin treatment may be the optimal treatment option for the dyslipidemia associated with MetS. Nevertheless, verification of these results in humans is required before any definite conclusions can be drawn.

Metabolic syndrome and dyslipidemia in youth

Obesity is a well-known risk factor for metabolic syndrome. Although the cause or causes of metabolic syndrome are debated, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension are increasingly recognized in children and adolescents, especially those who are overweight or obese. Although adoption of a healthy lifestyle early in life offers the best long-term solution, many children and adolescents are currently at risk for future cardiovascular disease. Although long-term outcome data are lacking, the dyslipidemic triad commonly seen in youth with metabolic syndrome (elevated triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein, and small dense low-density lipoprotein) is likely to significantly contribute to future vascular disease. Surrogate markers (carotid intima-media thickness and flow-mediated vasodilatation) for the precursors of cardiovascular disease are increased in obese youth, consistent with early vascular damage. In this work, we review the features of metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents, including age- and gender-specific norms for lipid values. Diagnostic criteria and modifications of screening guidelines unique to youth are discussed. Although recommendations for lifestyle modification are suggested for all, many youth at high risk of future cardiovascular risk may need more aggressive medical interventions to improve insulin sensitivity, achieve a less atherogenic lipid profile, and lower blood pressure.