title: Metabolic syndrome and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in Cubans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated metabolic syndrome and its association with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in Cuban Americans.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 161 nondiabetic Cuban Americans (55 men and 106 women) aged > or = 30 years living in South Florida. Metabolic syndrome was defined by using Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Elevated hs-CRP level was defined as > 3 mg/L.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Metabolic syndrome was present in 41% of participants, and no differences were seen by sex. The most common components of metabolic syndrome for women were abdominal obesity and elevated blood pressure, whereas for men they were elevated blood pressure and high triglyceride levels. A higher percentage of women had abdominal obesity and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, whereas a higher percentage of men had high triglyceride levels and abnormal glucose metabolism. The odds of having elevated hs-CRP levels were approximately 4 times higher in participants with metabolic syndrome than in those without it. Mean log hs-CRP increased as number of components of metabolic syndrome increased. Of the components of metabolic syndrome, only abdominal obesity was significantly associated with elevated hs-CRP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Metabolic syndrome was highly prevalent in our population of Cuban Americans. Cuban Americans with metabolic syndrome had elevated hs-CRP levels that might be explained by their abdominal obesity, increasing the risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Florida International University, Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, Miami, FL 33199, USA. huffmanf@fiu.edu
authors.forename: Fatma G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Huffman
authors.forename: Gianna Perez
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.forename: Gustavo G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Zarini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003462:Cuba / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids; D002097:C-Reactive Protein