Metabolic syndrome during female midlife: what are the risks?

Abstract

The metabolic syndrome (METS) is an entity diagnosed by three or more of the following factors: abdominal obesity, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high serum triglycerides, fasting glucose, and/or blood pressure levels. Abdominal obesity is the most prevalent component of the syndrome that favors insulin resistance and a proinflammatory and prothrombotic status, and the risk of developing diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic conditions. During the menopausal transition, women tend to gain weight and this has been related to an increase in the prevalence of the METS. Rates have also been linked to hormonal status (perimenopausal vs. postmenopausal), changes in lifestyle, and endocrine adjustments. Abnormal cytokine secretion subsequently produces endothelial dysfunction, which will consequently increase cardiovascular risk and related morbidity and mortality. This document will review the various risks that arise as a consequence of the METS during female midlife.

摘要

代谢综合征（METS）是由以下三种或三种以上的因素诊断出的疾病：腹部肥胖、低高密度脂蛋白、血清高甘油三酯、空腹血糖和/或血压水平。腹部肥胖是代谢综合征最常见的组成部分, 有助于胰岛素抵抗、促炎和血栓的形成, 以及发展成为糖尿病、高血压和其他慢性疾病的风险升高。在围绝经期, 女性体重的增加与METS发病率的增加相关。METS发病率还与激素情况（绝经期与绝经后）、生活方式的改变和内分泌的调节相关。细胞因子分泌异常会导致内皮功能障碍, 从而导致心血管疾病的风险增加和相关的发病率和死亡率升高。本篇文章回顾了中年女性导致代谢综合征增加的各种风险。

Keywords:

• Metabolic syndrome
• midlife
• menopause
• risks
• obesity
• insulin resistance
• inflammation

Conflict of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This review is partly supported by the Sistema de Investigación y Desarrollo of the Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil (UCSG), Guayaquil, Ecuador (The Omega II, Women's Health Project, Grant No. SIU-318-853-2014).