title: High plasma fetuin-A levels are associated with metabolic syndrome among males but not females in a Japanese general population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fetuin-A, a protein exclusively secreted from the liver, is associated with insulin resistance and/or metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, few studies have examined this association in Japan. We investigated this issue in a Japanese general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed an epidemiological survey in a small community in Japan. The participants consisted of 659 subjects (253 males and 406 females). Fetuin-A levels were measured by a sandwich ELISA method and the modified NCEP-ATP III criteria were adopted to diagnose MetS. The homeostasis model assessment index (HOMA-IR) was calculated as a marker of insulin resistance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant characteristics of the 659 subjects stratified by fetuin-A quartiles were male gender (inversely), age (inversely), insulin, HOMA-IR, uric acid (inversely), alcohol intake (inversely) and the prevalence of MetS. Mean fetuin-A levels were 249.7±45.1μg/ml in males and 262.7±55.8μg/ml in females. In males, the prevalence of MetS was 43.1%, and their mean HOMA-IR level was 1.1. In females, the prevalence of MetS was 17.7%, and their mean HOMA-IR level was 0.9. Multiple stepwise regression analyses showed that fetuin-A levels in males but not females were independently associated with MetS and LDL-c. Multiple logistic regression analysis of fetuin-A (quartile 1 vs. quartile 4) in males showed significant odds ratios of 1.009 (95% C.I.: 1.003-1.015) for MetS and 1.376 (95% C.I.: 1.027-1.844) for 1-SD increment increase in LDL-c.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High plasma fetuin-A levels were associated with MetS in community-dwelling Japanese males but not females.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardio-Vascular Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan.
authors.forename: Aya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Obuchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan. Electronic address: hadac@med.kurume-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Adachi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardio-Vascular Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan.
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Enomoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardio-Vascular Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan.
authors.forename: Ako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fukami
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardio-Vascular Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan.
authors.forename: Eita
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kumagai
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardio-Vascular Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan.
authors.forename: Sachiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardio-Vascular Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan.
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardio-Vascular Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan.
authors.forename: Yume
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nohara
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardio-Vascular Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nakao
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardio-Vascular Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Umeki
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardio-Vascular Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukumoto
authors.affiliation: Fukuoka Sanno Hospital and International University of Health and Welfare, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imaizumi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein / Q000032:analysis*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C556354:AHSG protein, human; D015415:Biomarkers; D007328:Insulin; D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins
keywords: Epidemiology; Fetuin-A; General population; Metabolic syndrome