Characteristics of reference intervals of metabolic factors in healthy Japanese: a proposal to set generation- and gender-specific diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To verify the clinical diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome (MetS-Criteria) for Japanese (Japanese-Criteria) from the viewpoint of reference intervals (RIs) of metabolic factors.


METHODS
In healthy subjects selected from 1,379 males and 1,528 females aged 20-65 years, generation-and gender-specific RIs of metabolic factors were determined. Then, from the upper or lower limits of the RIs, new MetS-Criteria were tentatively set (New-Criteria).


RESULTS
RIs of some metabolic factors were associated with gender- and/or generation-specific differences. In both genders, the New-Criteria for subjects in their 40s and over (older adults) were comparable to the Japanese-Criteria, whereas the New-Criteria for these in their 30s and less (younger adults) were not. Levels of cut-off values in the New-Criteria for younger adults were mostly between those of the Japanese-Criteria and recently established MetS-Criteria for adolescents. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome estimated by the Japanese-Criteria and the New-Criteria well corresponded in older adults but significantly differed in younger adults.


CONCLUSIONS
MetS-Criteria prepared on gender- and generation-specific bases may be necessary. The Japanese-Criteria, which may still have room for minor changes, seem to be valid at least for older adults; however, new MetS-Criteria should be established for younger adults.
Yokoyama
Hirokazu
H
Health Center, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan. wdphq489@yahoo.co.jp
Hirose
Hiroshi
H
Kawabe
Hiroshi
H
Saito
Ikuo
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult