A comparison of the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its components among native Japanese and Japanese Brazilians residing in Japan and Brazil.
BACKGROUND
This study investigated the prevalence of risk factors associated with the metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) among individuals of Japanese descent exposed to different cultural environments.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study to assess component risk factors for the diagnosis of MetSyn was undertaken in urban areas in Japan and Brazil. A total of 773 men and women aged 35 years or over were included in three groups: 249 native Japanese, 269 Brazilian individuals of Japanese ancestry residing in Japan, and 255 Brazilian individuals of Japanese ancestry residing in Brazil.


RESULTS
Higher rates of metabolic abnormalities with respect to central obesity and serum lipid profiles were observed among Brazilian individuals of Japanese ancestry residing in Brazil compared with those residing in Japan and native Japanese. Likewise, an increased risk of hypertension was observed among Japanese Brazilian individuals residing in Japan. The prevalence of MetSyn in men was significantly higher among Brazilians of Japanese ancestry residing in Brazil (37.5%) compared with those residing in Japan (25.3%) or native Japanese (21.4%), whereas no significant difference was observed among women. In the logistic model, Brazilian individuals of Japanese ancestry residing in Brazil were twice as likely to develop MetSyn compared with native Japanese, whereas no significant differences were found among those residing in Japan.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings underscore the significant heterogeneity in risk factors among communities of Japanese ancestry residing in Brazil and Japan, and suggest that immigrants exposed to the Brazilian cultural environment are more susceptible to the development of risk factors associated with MetSyn than native Japanese.
Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, Sports Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Andiara
A
Schwingel
Yoshio
Y
Nakata
Lucy S
LS
Ito
Wojtek J
WJ
Chodzko-Zajko
Ryosuke
R
Shigematsu
Christopher T
CT
Erb
Sueli M
SM
Oba-Shinjo
Tomoaki
T
Matsuo
Samuel K
SK
Shinjo
Miyuki
M
Uno
Suely K N
SK
Marie
Kiyoji
K
Tanaka
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors