This study was to assess the relation of thyroid dysfunction to metabolic syndrome (MetS) at an earlier stage in Korean population. Metabolic parameters such as body composition, blood pressure (BP), fasting glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine 4 (fT4) were measured. During a mean follow-up of 3 yr, 5,998 Koreans ages over 18 yr were assessed. There were 694 cases of MetS at follow-up. The mean age of the subjects was 45.6 ± 9.5 yr. Mean level of TSH was 2.02 ± 1.50 mIU/L, mean level of fT4 was 1.23 ± 0.20 ρM/L. At baseline, TSH levels and fT4 levels were associated to waist circumference, BP, glucose and lipids in the subjects. Increase in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol and TG were significantly associated with changes in TSH levels after adjustment. Changes in DBP, TG, HDL-C and fasting glucose were significantly associated with changes in fT4 levels after adjustment. Increase in TSH levels even after further controlling for baseline TSH level predicted the MetS over the study period. In conclusion, there is a relationship between thyroid function and cardiovascular risk factors, such as BP, total cholesterol, TG, HDL-C and fasting glucose. Also, higher levels of TSH may predict the MetS in Korean.

PurposeRecent studies have revealed close relationships between hepatic injury, metabolic pathways, and gut microbiota. The microorganisms in the intestine also cause irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The aim of this study was to examine whether IBS was associated with elevated hepatic enzyme [alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)], gamma-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT) levels, and metabolic syndrome (MS).Materials and MethodsThis was a retrospective, cross-sectional, case-control study. The case and control groups comprised subjects who visited our health promotion center for general check-ups from June 2010 to December 2010. Of the 1127 initially screened subjects, 83 had IBS according to the Rome III criteria. The control group consisted of 260 age- and sex-matched subjects without IBS who visited our health promotion center during the same period.ResultsCompared to control subjects, patients with IBS showed significantly higher values of anthropometric parameters (body mass index, waist circumference), liver enzymes, γ-GT, and lipid levels. The prevalences of elevated ALT (16.9% vs. 7.7%; p=0.015) and γ-GT (24.1% vs. 11.5%; p=0.037) levels were significantly higher in patients with IBS than in control subjects. A statistically significant difference was observed in the prevalence of MS between controls and IBS patients (12.7% vs. 32.5%; p<0.001). The relationships between elevated ALT levels, MS, and IBS remained statistically significant after controlling for potential confounding factors.ConclusionOn the basis of our study results, IBS may be an important condition in certain patients with elevated ALT levels and MS.

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is related with energy expenditure, in contrary to fat-storing white adipose tissue. Recent studies have shown that cold exposure could be related with the expression of BAT in adult subjects assessed by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET). In addition, the application in previous clinical trials showed positive effect of xanthigen containing fucoxanthin and punicic acid on body weight and liver fat content. In this short-term intervention study, we evaluated the effect of xanthigen on the expression of BAT by 18F-FDG PET. Two healthy obese premenopausal women were enrolled and xanthigen 600 mg (2 capsules including fucoxanthin 3 mg, punicic acid 174 mg) was given for 3 months without dietary and exercise intervention. Body composition and dietary intake were assessed monthly. Laboratory test and 18F-FDG PET were performed before and after intervention. After intervention, there was neither weight reduction nor remarkable laboratory change. However, BAT, assessed by 18F-FDG PET, was detected in both cervical, supraclavicular and paravertebral space in one subject, even though her body weight showed mild increase. This result suggested that xanthigen can induce BAT in a healthy adult. However, a further large well-controlled study is needed.

ABSTRACT

There have been inconsistent findings on the association of obesity and non-constipation irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) with hydrogen (H2) gas forming-microflora causes non-constipation IBS. But, the effect of H2 producing SIBO on obesity in non-constipation IBS patients has not been studied yet. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between obesity and SIBO in non-constipation IBS patients. We reviewed the charts of patients who showed IBS symptoms along with the documented results of their lactulose hydrogen breath test (LHBT) for SIBO. Multivariate models were used to assess the association between obesity and SIBO. Four-hundred fifty-eight patients were retrospectively included in the study. Of the 485 IBS patients, 158 (30.7%) subjects had positive results for LHBT. Subjects without SIBO showed significantly higher levels of body mass index (24.8 vs. 23.3; P < 0.001) and waist circumference (86.5 vs. 82.7; P < 0.001) as compared to subjects with SIBO. In multivariate analysis, the odds ratios of SIBO were 0.396 (P = 0.018) for obesity and 0.482 (P = 0.021) for abdominal obesity. This is the first human study to demonstrate that obesity is inversely related to SIBO with H2 gas production in non-constipation IBS patients.