You’ve probably heard the term “metabolic syndrome,” but do you know what it is – and what it’s not? Metabolic syndrome is not an actual disease; instead, it’s a constellation of risk factors for heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and other conditions. Although there is no single diagnostic blood test for it, there are several blood tests and other clinical evaluations that together help evaluate these risk factors.

Five Factors 

There are five factors that help pinpoint metabolic syndrome, but all five need not be present. If you have three of the five risk factors, then it’s considered metabolic syndrome, thus increasing your risk for heart disease and diabetes.

  1. Increased waist circumference (>102 cm/40 inches men and >88 cm/34 inches women)
  2. Elevated blood pressure (>130/85 mmHg)
  3. Elevated blood sugar (fasting glucose ≥100 mg/dL)
  4. High triglycerides (>150 mg/dL)
  5. Low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) (<40 mg/dL in men and <50 mg/dL in women)

What about BMI?

Although the above are the five metabolic syndrome (MetS) diagnostic factors, there are other risk factors associated with MetS. Risk increases with age and body mass index (BMI), which is calculated using your height and weight. If you know these two things, you can figure it out by taking your weight in pounds multiplied by 703 and your height in inches squared, then dividing the first number by the second number. A normal BMI is between 18.5 and 25.

If you’re an athlete and quite muscular, because muscle weighs more than fat, then a higher BMI can be associated with increased muscle mass. In that case, a higher BMI is likely not a risk factor. But only if you’re athletic/muscular. Otherwise, a high BMI is likely a risk factor for MetS. For example, if you have a BMI of 25-29.9, then you have a 5.5-6 times greater risk for MetS than if your BMI is less than 25. If your BMI is 30 or more, then a woman has a 17-times greater risk for MetS and a man has a 32-times greater risk – compared to a BMI of less than 25.

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Health conditions associated with metabolic syndrome

As noted, MetS is a constellation of risk factors for a number of health conditions.

1. Cardiovascular disease 

Individuals with MetS are three times more likely than those without MetS to have a stroke or a heart attack and twice as likely to die from these events.1

2. Type 2 diabetes

The risk of developing type 2 diabetes is five times higher in individuals with MetS.1

3. Fatty liver

Technically, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (or NAFLD), fatty liver is the most common liver disease in the Western world and, according to the American Liver Foundation, 25 percent of Americans have fatty liver. Even children can have fatty liver; 30-40 percent of adults and 5-10 percent of children probably have fatty liver.2 Insulin resistance, obesity, and other aspects of MetS are associated with increased risk for fatty liver.

4. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

Many aspects of MetS are also seen in women who have PCOS – including insulin resistance, obesity in some cases, and elevated cholesterol. Statistics indicate approximately 30 percent of women who have PCOS have impaired glucose tolerance, while an additional 7.5 percent have diabetes.3

5. Sleep apnea

Obesity is at the core of the worldwide increase in sleep apnea, a condition commonly associated with MetS. In addition to obesity being a cause of sleep apnea, sleep apnea appears to contribute to MetS; for example, sleep apnea can cause elevated blood pressure. Studies also show sleep apnea can increase the level of cortisol, which is in turn associated with obesity and insulin resistance.4

Causes of MetS

By now it should be obvious which lifestyle factors can contribute to MetS. Let’s consider some that aren’t so obvious.

1.  Inflammation

Now a “chicken or egg” issue – which came first – inflammation or increased fat cells? Obesity is associated with low-level inflammation, which occurs first in the adipocytes (fat cells), with an increase in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α).5 TNF-α (a marker of inflammation) stimulates a more general inflammatory state that can ultimately result in insulin resistance and blood pressure problems.

2. Stress

Stress causes the body to secrete cortisol from the adrenal glands, which can cause increased cravings for sugary foods and increased blood sugar, all of which can cause more fat production and resulting weight gain. Stress is a well-known contributing factor to obesity, and, as it turns out, to MetS. In a study of 10,308 men and women, ages 35-55, workplace stress measured over a 14-year period was positively associated with an increased risk for MetS. Employees with chronic work stress were twice as likely to develop MetS than individuals without work stress.6

3. Environmental toxin exposure

Increasing evidence over 20 years indicates that chemicals in the environment contribute to hormonal imbalances that result in metabolic disruption. Human epidemiological data and numerous animal studies specifically associate endocrine-disrupting chemicals – such as organochlorine pesticides (like DDT), dioxins (like PCBs), and flame retardants (PBDEs) – with MetS. Studies also link exposure to plasticizing agents bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalates to insulin resistance, obesity, and liver abnormalities. Researchers are concerned that the effects of these chemicals are being amplified because their production now exceeds 400 million tons globally.7 BPA has significant adverse effects on estrogen signaling, even in small amounts.8 This signaling can alter glucose transporter function, cause high blood sugar, interfere with the brain’s regulation of weight in the hypothalamus, result in fat accumulation, and impair energy expenditure (calorie burning).9

4. Lack of exercise

Lack of physical activity has long been associated with adverse impacts on metabolic health, including an increase in abdominal fat and a decrease in insulin sensitivity. As a person becomes less active, BMI, waist-hip ratio, waist circumference, and obesity increase.10 Even in adolescents, lack of exercise and low cardiorespiratory fitness are associated with increased risk for MetS.11

Dietary excesses associated with MetS

1. Sugar-sweetened sodas – not good

Forty-eight percent of Americans drink at least one soda daily (28% one soda daily; 20% two or more sodas daily). When examining the effects of sugar-sweetened beverages on MetS parameters, researchers found plasma triglycerides and waist circumference, both aspects of MetS, increased as the number of sugared beverages increased.12

2. Diet sodas – worse

As awareness of the negative effects of sugar-sweetened sodas has increased, many people who choose diet sodas have the misconception that these beverages are a healthier choice. Unfortunately, data indicates the opposite is true. Individuals with an “at least daily” intake of diet soda were shown to have a 36-percent greater risk of developing MetS and a 67-percent greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to individuals who consume no diet beverages.13

3. High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) – the worst

Studies comparing HFCS-sweetened beverages to other sugar-sweetened beverages show HFCS-containing beverages increase MetS symptoms at a higher rate.14,15 Other research outlines the potential health outcomes associated with HFCS, such as weight gain/obesity, insulin resistance, fatty liver, increased triglycerides, leptin resistance, increased protein glycosylation, and type 2 diabetes.16  

4. Other dietary excesses

Questionnaires from 3,782 participants found that during a 9-year period, consumption of a Western dietary pattern – high in meat, fried foods, and diet sodas — promoted development of MetS.17

Nutrient deficiencies associated with MetS

Although it is easy to consider MetS is attributable to excesses, there are several nutrient deficiencies associated with it. The most extensively researched deficiencies are magnesium, vitamin D, and chromium.

1. Magnesium

Magnesium is one of the most clearly identified nutrient deficiencies in MetS. Studies clearly show insulin sensitivity declines in healthy subjects when a magnesium deficiency is induced.18 A 15-year study of young American adults found a 31-percent increase in MetS in the group who had the lowest magnesium intake.19 A study on hair mineral content found lower magnesium-to-calcium ratios in individuals with insulin resistance.20 Lower intakes and lower blood levels of magnesium are associated with increased inflammation, while higher magnesium intakes and higher blood levels demonstrate a protective effect.21

2. Vitamin D

Vitamin D plays a role in metabolic syndrome, with studies showing a role in immune system function, inflammation, pancreatic beta-cell function (the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin), and the mineral imbalances associated with MetS.22 A meta-analysis of 28 studies showed that, compared to higher vitamin D levels, lower vitamin D levels were associated with a 55-percent increase in diabetes, a 33-percent increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease, and a 51-percent increase in metabolic syndrome.23

3. Chromium

A chromium deficiency is seen in 80 percent of American diets. Chromium is not found in sufficient amounts in food to replenish tissue stores or to support healthy carbohydrate metabolism. Diets high in simple sugars can deplete chromium from the body.24 In a study of 123 males (63 with MetS; 60 controls), those with MetS had lower hair chromium concentrations than healthy controls.20

So now that you understand how both nutritional excesses and deficiencies play a part in MetS, part two of this article will explore in more detail the solutions to this seeming epidemic.

References

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