Abstract

MUSCOLO, José María et al. Metabolic syndrome in obese women: evaluation of insulin resistance and lipoprotein biomarkers. Acta bioquím. clín. latinoam. [online]. 2004, vol.38, n.4, pp.481-488. ISSN 0325-2957.

The metabolic syndrome (MS) is an important atherogenic risk factor. Premenopausal women are more protected from atherosclerosis than men. However, obesity is associated with increase in cardiovascular risk. The aims of the present study were to determine the frequency of MS in a group of obese women, and to analyze the diagnostic sensibility of different variables associated with MS. For these purposes, 123 obese women were evaluated (body mass index ≥ 30 Kg/m²). The study comprised measurement of anthropometric parameters, arterial blood pressure, markers of carbohydrate metabolism, fibrinogen, uric acid, lipids and lipoproteins. In this population, the frequency of metabolic syndrome was 40.7%, considerably higher than the reported value for overall female population. The presence of MS was associated with insulin resistance, high arterial blood pressure, hyperuricemia, abnormalities in the carbohydrate metabolism, and an atherogenic lipoprotein profile characterized by alterations in triglyceride-rich and high density lipoproteins (HDL). The cut-off point for the homeostasis model (HOMA) was 3.1. The latter, together with systolic pressure, triglyceride levels and the ratio triglycerides/HDL-cholesterol became the most sensitive predictors of MS.

Keywords : metabolic syndrome; insulin resistance; atherosclerosis; women; obesity.

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