Risk of metabolic syndrome among law enforcement officers due to physical activity and posture behaviors

BACKGROUND

There are limited data on objectively measured activity and postural behaviors of law enforcement officers (LEOs) in relation to risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS).

OBJECTIVES

To examine the associations between objectively measured activity and postural behaviors and MetS risk among LEOs.

METHODS

Thirty-one LEOs, mean (SD) age 33 (10) years, participated in the study. LEOs had their metabolic risk factors measured using blood samples after fasting for at least 10 hours prior to testing. Participants wore activity-monitoring devices for 7 consecutive days during on-duty and off-duty shifts. Eighteen participants adhered to wearing the devices. Descriptive statistics were used to determine means for all MetS risk factors; time in intensity-specific physical activity behaviors; and time in various postural shifts. Correlation analyses were employed to examine relationships between activity behaviors, postures, and MetS risk factors.

RESULTS

Over half (51.6%; n = 16) of the participants had 2 or more positive MetS risk factors. Mean (SD) on-duty sedentary behavior was 273 (59) minutes compared with off-duty sedentary behavior of 401 (146) minutes. Mean on-duty moderate-intensity activity was 236 (40) minutes compared with off-duty moderate-intensity activity of 305 (80) minutes. Average on-duty sitting time was 435 (69) minutes compared with off-duty sitting time of 528 (142) minutes. Average on-duty standing time was 116 (43) minutes compared with off-duty standing time of 171 (51) minutes. There were negative correlations between on-duty sedentary activity and Systolic Blood Pressure (r = -0.48) and Diastolic Blood Pressure (r = -0.48), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Law enforcement officers have unfavorable activity and postural behaviors during a typical day regardless of working status and may be at risk for developing MetS.

Trimester two gestational exposure to bisphenol A and adherence to mediterranean diet are associated with adolescent offspring oxidative stress and metabolic syndrome risk in a sex-specific manner

Background

Exposure to prenatal bisphenol A (BPA) and Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) has been linked to metabolic risk in child offspring. It remains unclear if independent and interactive effects persist in adolescence.

Methods

We examined prenatal BPA and MDS on adolescent offspring metabolic syndrome risk score (MRS) and 8-isoprostane (8-iso), a biomarker of oxidative stress. Data from maternal-adolescent dyads from a Mexico City cohort were utilized, including trimester-specific prenatal BPA from spot urine and MDS from food frequency questionnaires. Offspring socio-demographic data and biomarkers to estimate MRS and 8-iso were obtained during peri-adolescence.

Results

Adjusted linear regression models examined associations between trimester-specific BPA, MDS, and BPA^*MDS on outcomes. Sex-stratified analyses revealed a significant association between MDS with increased 8-iso (β = 0.064, p < 0.05), and a marginal association between trimester two BPA with increased 8-iso (β = 0.237), while MDS modified the marginal association between BPA and 8-iso in females (β = 0.046). A negative, marginal association was observed between trimester two BPA and MRS (β = - 0.728), while BPA ^* MDS was marginally, positively associated with MRS (β = 0.152) in males.

Conclusions

Study findings indicate that trimester two prenatal BPA and maternal adherence to a Mediterranean diet may have sexually dimorphic effects on adolescent offspring oxidative stress and metabolic syndrome risk.

What does serum γ-glutamyltransferase tell us as a cardiometabolic risk marker?

γ-glutamyltransferase plays a key role in the synthesis and metabolism of extracellular glutathione, a major antioxidant in several defence mechanisms in the body. γ-glutamyltransferase is affected by environmental and genetic factors, and is raised when there is depletion of glutathione. Hence, it is a marker of oxidative stress. There is robust evidence that γ-glutamyltransferase even when values are within the reference interval is associated with increased cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in both sexes, in normal subjects and subjects with coronary artery disease, in the middle-aged and the elderly after adjusting for confounding factors. γ-glutamyltransferase even within the reference interval is associated with future presentation of type 2 diabetes, and the longitudinal increase in γ-glutamyltransferase activity is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular mortality. γ-glutamyltransferase is associated with cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome. It has a prognostic value after a previous acute myocardial infarction and may be an indicator of adverse outcome in acute coronary syndromes and other chronic cardiac disorders. There is limited data about γ-glutamyltransferase and any association with peripheral arterial disease and also whether knowing γ-glutamyltransferase activity improves cardiovascular risk prediction beyond conventional risk factors. γ-glutamyltransferase is present in atherosclerotic lesions in the coronary and carotid arteries, and has a prooxidant role leading to the production of reactive oxygen species and atherosclerosis. Current reference intervals for γ-glutamyltransferase are inappropriate and need to be addressed. Some laboratories still use non- International Federation of Clinical Chemistry methods for estimation of γ-glutamyltransferase which are associated with lower results. Such laboratories should review their method and consider changing to the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry method.

Breakfast patterns are associated with metabolic syndrome in Korean adults

The Korean diet, including breakfast, is becoming more Western, which could increase the risk of metabolic syndrome. Our aim was to assess whether breakfast patterns are associated with risk for metabolic syndrome in Korean adults. The study subjects (n = 371; 103 men, 268 women) were employees of Jaesang Hospital in Korea and their acquaintances, and all subjects were between 30 and 50 years old. The data collected from each subject included anthropometric measurements, three-day food intake, blood pressure (BP) and blood analyses. The three breakfast patterns identified by factor analysis were "Rice, Kimchi and Vegetables", "Potatoes, Fruits and Nuts" and "Eggs, Breads and Processed meat". The "Rice, Kimchi and Vegetables" pattern scores were positively correlated with systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) measurements in men (P < 0.05) and with serum triglyceride (TG) levels in women (P < 0.05). The "Eggs, Breads and Processed meat" pattern scores correlated positively with weight, body mass index (P < 0.05) and serum TGs (P < 0.01) in men. The "Potatoes, Fruits and Nuts" pattern was associated with lower risk of elevated BP (OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.28-0.88) and fasting glucose levels (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.26-1.00). In contrast, the "Eggs, Breads and Processed meat" pattern was associated with increased risk of elevated TGs (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.06-3.98). Our results indicate that reducing the consumption of eggs, western grains and processed meat while increasing fruit, nut and vegetable intake for breakfast could have beneficial effects on decreasing metabolic syndrome risk in Korean adults.