Factor analysis of metabolic syndrome components in severely obese girls and boys

The A allele of cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) SNP 1761667 associates with decreased lipid taste perception in obese Tunisian women

Recent studies have suggested that excessive intake of dietary fat is associated with obesity. Some obese subjects have been reported to exhibit high thresholds for the gustatory detection of lipids via lipid receptors, such as cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36). We studied lingual detection thresholds for emulsions containing oleic acid in obese Tunisian women (n 203) using a three-alternative forced choice (3-AFC) method. Genotyping of the TNF-α (rs1800629), IL-6 (rs1800795) and CD36 (rs1761667) genes was performed to associate with lipid taste perception thresholds. The CD36 genotype distribution was as follows: GG (n 42), AG (n 102) and AA (n 59). Women with the CD36 GG genotype exhibited oral detection thresholds for oleic acid that were more than three times lower than those with the CD36 AA genotype. The present study confirms a high threshold of gustatory fat detection in obese women with the CD36 AA genotype, but there is no significant association with the IL-6 and TNF-α gene polymorphisms.

The factor structure of the metabolic syndrome in obese individuals with binge eating disorder

OBJECTIVE

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is strongly linked with cardiovascular disease and type-II diabetes, but there has been debate over which metabolic measures constitute MetS. Obese individuals with binge eating disorder (BED) are one of the high risk populations for developing MetS due to their excess weight and maladaptive eating patterns, yet, the clustering patterns of metabolic measures have not been examined in this patient group.

METHODS

347 adults (71.8% women) were recruited for treatment studies for obese individuals with BED. We used the VARCLUS procedure in the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) to investigate the clustering pattern of metabolic risk measures.

RESULTS

The analysis yielded four factors: obesity (body-mass-index [BMI] and waist circumference), lipids (HDL and triglycerides), blood pressure (systolic and diastolic blood pressure), and glucose regulation (fasting serum glucose and Hb1Ac). The four factors accounted for 84% of the total variances, and variances explained by each factor were not substantially different. There was no inter-correlation between the four factors. Subgroup analyses by sex and by race (Caucasian vs. African American) yielded the same four-factor structure.

CONCLUSION

The factor structure of MetS in obese individuals with BED is not different from those found in normative population studies. This factor structure may be applicable to the diverse population.

Longitudinal factor analysis reveals a distinct clustering of cardiometabolic improvements during intensive, short-term dietary and exercise intervention in obese children and adolescents

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate changes in cardiometabolic clustering characteristics in response to highly significant weight loss.

BACKGROUND

Pre-post analysis of a lifestyle intervention for the treatment of obesity and the assessment of interrelated metabolic changes were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA). A total of n=75 clinically obese boys and girls [standardized body mass index (sBMI) 3.07±0.59] aged 8-18 years were assessed after lifestyle intervention (30±12 days).

RESULTS

There were favorable improvements in BMI waist circumference, fasting insulin, triglycerides (TGs), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (all P<0.001). PCA was performed using a simple conceptual model of changes in six metabolic variables: Overall and central obesity (BMI and waist circumference), dyslipidemia [TG and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)], insulin resistance [fasting insulin or homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)], and blood pressure [SBP or mean arterial pressure (MAP)]. PCA models consistently identified two factors underlying the changes in six cardiometabolic variables. These were labeled a "metabolic" factor, typically including waist circumference, fasting triglyceride, insulin, or HOMA-IR and HDL-C (negatively) and an "obesity/blood pressure" factor, typically loading waist, BMI, SBP or MAP, and occasionally fasting insulin/HOMA-IR). The metabolic and obesity/blood pressure factors explained 26.5%-28.4% and 30.4%-31.9%, of the variance in metabolic risk factors changes, respectively. Reductions in BMI, waist circumference, and HOMA-IR (or fasting insulin) were central underlying features of cardiometabolic changes.

CONCLUSION

There were significant and favorable cardiometabolic risk factor changes to short-term weight-loss. A distinct clustering of cardiometabolic responses supports the etiological importance of both overall and central obesity and insulin resistance in the modification of cardiometabolic risk in obese youths.

Factor analysis of the clinical characteristics of primary Sjogren syndrome

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to use factor analysis to analyze 90 clinical characteristics of a cohort of 231 patients with primary Sjogren syndrome (pSS).

METHODS

The records of all patients seen at the University Health Network Sjogren Syndrome Clinic from October 1992 to July 2006 were reviewed and documented. Those diagnosed as pSS by the American European Consensus Criteria of 2002 were included. The 90 clinical variables, including health history, blood analysis, symptoms of dry eye and dry mouth, salivary flow and biopsy, tear flow and staining, were analyzed by factor analysis.

RESULTS

Two hundred thirty-one patients with pSS charts were reviewed, and 90 variables were recorded. Factor analysis resulted in three factors: factor 1: ocular surface staining, factor 2: antimicrosomal antibodies and antithyroid antibodies, and factor 3: serum anti-Ro and anti-La.

CONCLUSIONS

Ocular surface staining accounted for the greatest variance in this population of patients with pSS.

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among extremely obese adolescents in Italy and Germany

Juvenile metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a growing major medical problem in industrialised countries. We estimated its prevalence among two similar clinic-based sequentially recruited cohorts of extremely obese adolescents (age: 12-18 years) from Italy (N=665, males=271, females=394) and Germany (N=661, males=261, females=400) using the recent IDF paediatric criteria. The prevalence of the MetS was 23.3% among the Italians and 40.4% among the Germans. A multivariate logistic regression revealed an increased risk related to age (adjusted odd ratio (AOR): 2.24; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.59-3.16; p<0.001), BMI SDS (AOR: 3.61; 95% CI: 2.33-5.60; p<0.001), male gender (AOR: 2.36; 95% CI: 1.80-3.10; p<0.001), and in German adolescents (AOR: 2.56; 95% CI: 1.98-3.31; p<0.001). Among Italian adolescents having the MetS, 83% had 3 abnormalities, 16% had 4 abnormalities while less than 1% had all the 5 abnormalities. In the German cohort, 67%, 28% and 5% of affected individuals had 3, 4 and 5 abnormalities, respectively. These results indicate that MetS is highly prevalent among extremely obese adolescents, and suggest that (besides age, obesity and gender) national sociocultural factors, as alimentary trends, could be important. Further tools should be developed to understand international epidemiological differences concerning obesity and its comorbidities in relation to lifestyles in the countries of European Union.