title: Metabolic syndrome and associated factors in children and adolescents of a Brazilian municipality.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  the risk factors associated to metabolic syndrome (MS) have been extensively studied in adults, but in children and adolescents it is poorly explored.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify the prevalence of MS and associated factors in children and adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study with 540 children and adolescents from 7 to 14 years of age. The socioeconomic, demographic and lifestyle data and the family history of chronic diseases were reported by the individual and/or guardian and recorded in a structured questionnaire. Biochemical tests (fasting blood glucose, triacylglycerols, reduced high-density lipoprotein, very-low-density lipoprotein, homocysteine and cysteine), an anthropometric assessment and a blood pressure measurement were performed. MS was defined according to the criteria of The National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III adapted by Ferranti. A Poisson regression was used to identify the factors statistically associated with MS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MS prevalence was 12.8%, in which the most frequent component was a decreased high-density lipoprotein level (58.2%), followed by hypertriglyceridemia (41.8%), elevated blood pressure (29.1%), increased waist circumference (26.7%) and hyperglycemia (7.2%). Associations between metabolic syndrome and overweight [prevalence ratio (PR): 2.2 (1.22-3.95)], father education [PR: 2.19 (1.10-4.37)], serum very low-density lipoprotein concentration [PR: 1.08 (1.04-1.11)] and concomitantly increased serum homocysteine and cysteine concentrations [PR: 2.58 (1.32-5.04)] were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MS prevalence is high in children and adolescents and it is increased in patients with overweight, higher father education, increased serum very-low-density lipoprotein concentrations and a concomitant serum homocysteine and cysteine high levels.
authors.affiliation: Professor. Center for Health Sciences. Federal University of Recôncavo of Bahia. Santo Antônio de Jesus. State of Bahia. Brazil.. jack_cdias@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Jacqueline Costa
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Dias Pitangueira
authors.affiliation: Professor PhD. School of Medicine of Bahia. Head of the Paediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unity. Federal University of Bahia. Salvador. State of Bahia. Brazil..
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodrigues Silva
authors.affiliation: Professor PhD. School of Nutrition. Federal University of Bahia. Salvador, state of Bahia, Brazil..
authors.forename: Mônica Leila
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Portela de Santana
authors.affiliation: Professor PhD. School of Nutrition. Federal University of Bahia. Salvador, state of Bahia, Brazil..
authors.forename: Maria da Conceição
authors.initials: Mda C
authors.lastname: Monteiro da Silva
authors.affiliation: Professor. Center for Health Sciences. Federal University of Recôncavo of Bahia. Santo Antônio de Jesus. State of Bahia. Brazil..
authors.forename: Priscila Ribas
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: de Farias Costa
authors.affiliation: Professor PhD. Department of Psychobiology. Federal University of São Paulo. São Paulo. Brazil..
authors.forename: Vânia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: D'Almeida
authors.affiliation: Professor PhD. School of Nutrition. Federal University of Bahia. Salvador. State of Bahia. Brazil..
authors.forename: Ana Marlúcia
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: de Oliveira Assis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors