The Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components in African-American Women: Emerging Trends and Implications

Abstract

The Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is recognized as a predictor of cardiovascular outcomes and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The MetS is a constellation of clinical and metabolic risk factors that include abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance, and hypertension. There are ethnic and racial differences in the prevalence of MetS and its components. In general, African-Americans have lower prevalence of MetS when compared to whites, but suffer disproportionately from higher cardiovascular mortality and T2DM. Specifically, African-American women (AAW) have higher rates of T2DM and cardiovascular mortality despite a more favorable lipid and lipoprotein profile. This is paradoxical. However, there is a general upward trend in the prevalence of MetS in the US. The reasons are debatable, but could be multifactorial, including genetics and environmental factors. Thus, there is a need to understand the increasing trend in the MetS, its components, and the associated outcomes for AAW. Therefore, the purpose of this mini review is to (1) understand the increasing prevalence of MetS and its components in AAW and (2) provide suggestions for future prevention of cardiovascular disease and T2DM in AAW.

Regulation of Klf16 by Double Strand RNA-binding Protein STAU1 in Adipocyte Differentiation in vitro

“…Obesity is de ned as the excessive accumulation and/or abnormal distribution of fat in the body. It is a chronic metabolic disease caused by the interaction of genetic and environmental factors [1,24]. A large number of studies have shown that STAU1 can regulate cell growth and nerve differentiation [25].…”

An Investigation of the Genetic Variability of Metabolic Syndrome and Hemoglobin A1c among African Americans: Rethinking Current Standards of Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis

“…According to the NHANES ((National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) dataset, AAs had one of the lowest mean TG compared to Caucasian and Mexican Americans [7]. Moreover, studies have shown that AAs with insulin resistance have been found to have lower TG and higher HDLC as compared to Caucasians [8]. Serum lipids play a substantial role as a predictive biomarker in cardiometabolic disease and as a result of this more favorable lipid profile among AAs, it would be Volume: reasonable to assume that T2DM among AAs would be less prevalent, however from an epidemiological standpoint, this is not the observed [7].…”

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Risk and Stroke among Blacks with Metabolic Syndrome: Results from Metabolic Syndrome Outcome (MetSO) Registry

“…Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a constellation of clinical and metabolic risk factors that include abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance, and hypertension. In general, blacks have lower prevalence of MetS when compared to whites, but suffer disproportionately from higher cardiovascular mortality and type two diabetes mellitus [12]. It is unclear whether OSA and metabolic syndrome work synergistically within the black population to place this vulnerable sub-group at an even greater risk of stroke.…”