Lifestyle Factors and Metabolic Syndrome among Workers: The Role of Interactions between Smoking and Alcohol to Nutrition and Exercise

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate (1) relations of smoking and alcohol to metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components, with nutrition and exercise controlled; and (2) interactions between smoking/alcohol and nutrition/exercise on MetS. This cross-sectional study enrolled 4025 workers. Self-reported lifestyles, anthropometric values, blood pressure (BP), and biochemical determinations were obtained. Among males, smoking significantly increased the risk of low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), high triglyceride, abdominal obesity (AO), and MetS. Additionally, smoking showed significant interaction effects with nutrition on high BP, AO, and MetS; after further analysis, nutrition did not decrease above-mentioned risks for smokers. However, there was no significant interaction of smoking with exercise on any metabolic parameter. Alcohol increased the risk of AO, but decreased low HDL-C. It also showed an interaction effect with exercise on AO; after further analysis, exercise decreased AO risk for drinkers. Among females, alcohol significantly decreased the risk of high fasting blood glucose, but did not show significant interaction with nutrition/exercise on any metabolic parameter. In conclusion, in males, smoking retained significant associations with MetS and its components, even considering benefits of nutrition; exercise kept predominance on lipid parameters regardless of smoking status. Alcohol showed inconsistencies on metabolic parameters for both genders.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among ethnic groups in China

“…In this study, the association of maleness with MetS was weak and became not significant in the multivariable model. In previous studies, it have been shown that advanced age and drinking status were both associated with higher risk of MetS, while the association with exercise and smoking status was equivocal [33][34][35]. Our finding that Chinese of Korean and Tibetan ethnicities had the highest and lowest prevalence for MetS respectively should prompt further studies to explore the possible causes of ethnic difference in the risk of developing MetS.…”

A ‘High Risk’ Lifestyle Pattern Is Associated with Metabolic Syndrome among Qatari Women of Reproductive Age: A Cross-Sectional National Study

“…In addition to diet and physical activity, tobacco use has been implicated in the etiology of MetS due to its effects on WC, blood lipids and blood pressure [ 36 ]. Studies investigating the association between smoking and the risk of MetS, however, have frequently led to inconsistent results [ 37 , 38 , 39 ]. In their commentary Rabeus et al .…”

Health Promoting Behaviors (HPBs) and the Metabolic Indicators of Red Crescent Society Employees in Iran

“…In addition, other studies have indicated that a sedentary lifestyle plays a role in causing MetS (16,25). Furthermore, Huang et al (17) found that physical activity determined the risk of abdominal obesity in workers, and cholesterol. The results of the present study are partially consistent with the general liner model mentioned in the study done by Sutherland et al (18), who found that physical activity is related to the HDL but not to triglyceride.…”

“…In addition, a study done by Wu et al (5) indicated that 2% of the HPBs predict by MetS. Furthermore, in another study done by Huang et al (17), which was conducted among workers in Taiwan, indicated that physical activity decreases obesity in drinkers and plays the most important role in regulating the lipid parameters. The study was performed by Sutherland et al (18) on Latinos, which measured the HPBs and biophysical indicators, thus indicating that the relationships between these elements were not significant except physical activity.…”