Metabolic syndrome and inflammatory biomarkers: a community-based cross-sectional study at the Framingham Heart Study

We measured C-reactive protein, CD40 ligand, interleukin-6, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, osteoprotegerin, P-selectin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and tumor necrosis factor receptor-2 in 2570 Framingham Offspring Study participants free of diabetes and cardiovascular disease at examination 7. Metabolic syndrome was defined by National Cholesterol Education Program criteria. We performed multivariable linear regressions for each biomarker with metabolic syndrome as the exposure adjusting for age, sex, smoking, aspirin use, and hormone replacement. We subsequently added to the models components of the metabolic syndrome as continuous traits plus lipid lowering and hypertension treatments. We considered P？<？0.05 as statistically significant.Metabolic syndrome was present in 984 (38%) participants and was statistically significantly associated with each biomarker (all P？<？0.02) except osteoprotegerin. After adjusting for its component variables, the metabolic syndrome was associated only with P-selectin (1.06 fold higher in metabolic syndrome, 95% CI 1.02, 1.10, p？=？0.005).Metabolic syndrome was associated with multiple inflammatory biomarkers. However, adjusting for each of its components eliminated the association with most inflammatory markers, except P-selectin. Our results suggest that the relation between metabolic syndrome and inflammation is largely accounted for by its components.Obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus have been characterized as chronic “inflammatory” states that are associated with abnormal concentrations of cytokines, acute-phase reactants and other inflammatory signaling markers [1-5]. An association between metabolic syndrome and an elevated risk of developing diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease also has been described [6-8]. In addition, consistent associations between elevated mean C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations and body weight and metabolic syndrome have been de