Metabolic syndrome in South Asians

Abstract

South Asia is home to one of the largest population of people with metabolic syndrome (MetS). The prevalence of MetS in South Asians varies according to region, extent of urbanization, lifestyle patterns, and socioeconomic/cultural factors. Recent data show that about one-third of the urban population in large cities in India has the MetS. All classical risk factors comprising the MetS are prevalent in Asian Indians residing in India. The higher risk in this ethnic population necessitated a lowering of the cut-off values of the risk factors to identify and intervene for the MetS to prevent diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Some pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions are underway in MetS to assess the efficacy in preventing the diabetes and cardiovascular disease in this ethnic population.

Are Common Polymorphisms of the Lipoprotein Lipase and Human Paraoxonase-1 Genes Associated with the Metabolic Syndrome in South African Asian Indians?

“…Our findings are in keeping with several other studies showing that the MetS is highly prevalent amongst Asian Indians in India [3,20], as well as across the diaspora [4,21]. The accretive effects of urbanisation and westernisation have been well documented to result in an increased susceptibility to risk factor clustering (dyslipidaemia, hyperinsulinaemia, and hyperglycaemia) [22], body anthropometry ("thin-fat" phenotype) [21], perinatal conditioning [23] and a procoagulant state [24], all of which result in an increased predisposition to CVD in Asian Indians.…”

Attributes of metabolic syndrome in geriatric institutional residents in Secunderabad, India

“…One study also reported higher prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome among postmenopausal women. 22 Several studies have revealed that Metabolic Syndrome increase with age, more prevalent among smokers, those who consumed alcohol, partake junk food and do less physical activity 11,20,21,[23][24][25][26] etc. However, in the present study, Metabolic Syndrome was not associated with age, type of diet, physical activities in a significant manner.…”

“…Many studies also reported similar findings. 11,[18][19][20][21]24,25,27,28 Probably, this is the first study conducted in India which analyzed the prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and its probable risk factors among the geriatric population residing in old age home. Since this study was conducted with a small sample size, the findings can"t be generalized.…”

Metabolic Syndrome and HIV Infection

“…NHANES data 2003-2012 have shown a prevalence rate of 18.3% among those aged 20 to 39 years which increased to 46.7% among those aged 60 years or older with a higher incidence noted among women [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. Even in the developing countries of South Asia which incidentally has high incidence of Type 2 DM, MeTS has shown an increasing prevalence among all age groups with an additional component of being a more urban rather than rural phenomenon [10].…”