Ethnicity and Metabolic Syndrome: Implications for Assessment, Management and Prevention

Abstract

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a constellation of cardiometabolic risk factors that identifies people at increased risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. While the global prevalence is 20%–25% of the adult population, the prevalence varies across different racial/ethnic populations. In this narrative review, evidence is reviewed regarding the assessment, management and prevention of MetS among people of different racial/ethnic groups. The most popular definition of MetS considers race/ethnicity for assessing waist circumference given differences in visceral adipose tissue and cardiometabolic risk. However, defining race/ethnicity may pose challenges in the clinical setting. Despite 80% of the world’s population being of non-European descent, the majority of research on management and prevention has focused on European-derived populations. In these studies, lifestyle management has proven an effective therapy for reversal of MetS, and randomised studies are underway in specific racial/ethnic groups. Given the large number of people at risk for MetS, prevention efforts need to focus at community and population levels. Community-based interventions have begun to show promise, and efforts to improve lifestyle behaviours through alterations in the built environment may be another avenue. However, careful consideration needs to be given to take into account the unique cultural context of the target race/ethnic group.

Metabolic Syndrome: Past, Present and Future

“…The reader will find a mix of narrative reviews and communications written by well-published investigators, top international experts in the field. We are very grateful to these experts who have agreed to contribute to this issue [ 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 ]. Original papers that are relevant to our theme are also included [ 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 ].…”

Direct and Indirect Effect of Honey as a Functional Food Against Metabolic Syndrome and Its Skeletal Complications

“… 1 Proper management or prevention of MetS will lower the risk for its complications, including cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus. 10 The current approach in MetS treatment focuses on lifestyle modification or management, such as calorie restriction, low-to-moderate intense and regular aerobic physical activity and resistance training program. 10 The patients will be prescribed medications, such as beta-blockers/angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors for hypertension, statins for hyperlipidemia, metformin/glibenclamide for hyperglycemia if lifestyle modifications are insufficient.…”

“… 10 The current approach in MetS treatment focuses on lifestyle modification or management, such as calorie restriction, low-to-moderate intense and regular aerobic physical activity and resistance training program. 10 The patients will be prescribed medications, such as beta-blockers/angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors for hypertension, statins for hyperlipidemia, metformin/glibenclamide for hyperglycemia if lifestyle modifications are insufficient. 13 Although these agents are successful in controlling the components of MetS, concurrent use will lead to the issues of polypharmacy, leading to problems such as high medical expenses, drug interactions, low compliance of the patients.…”

Natural Bioactive Compounds Useful in Clinical Management of Metabolic Syndrome

“…At last, the IDF defines the presence of obesity as necessary, determined by WC, which is however variable in different ethnic groups [ 15 ]. In fact, WC ranges were subsequently defined based on the patient’s ethnicity: for Europeans, Canadians, and Americans from the USA, WC ≥ 102 cm in men and ≥88 cm in women; for the Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and sub-Saharan African populations, WC ≥ 94 cm in men and ≥80 cm in women; for Asian and Central-South American populations, WC ≥ 90 cm in men and ≥80 cm in women [ 16 , 17 ].…”