title: Dissecting metabolic syndrome components: data from an epidemiologic survey in a genetic isolate.
abstract: The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a large-scale and expanding public-health and clinical threat worldwide. We investigated the determinants of MetS, assessed its prevalence and components and, estimated their genetic contribution, taking advantage of the special characteristics of Sardinian isolated populations. Inhabitants of 10 villages in Ogliastra region participated in a cross-sectional survey in 2002-2008 (n = 9,647). Blood samples, blood pressure (BP), anthropometry and, data from a standardized interview were collected. Prevalence of MetS was estimated by the direct method of standardization. Variables associated with the MetS were identified using multilevel logistic regression. Heritability was determined using variance component models. MetS Prevalence was 19.6% (95% CI 18.9-20.4%) according to NCEP-ATPIII, 24.8% (95% CI 24.0-25.6%) according to IDF and, 29% (95% CI 28.1-29.8%) according to AHA/NHLBI harmonized criteria, ranging from 9 to 26% among villages. The most prevalent combination was BP + HDL-cholesterol (HDL) + triglycerides (TRIG) (19%), followed by BP + HDL + waist circumference (WAIST) (17%) and, BP + HDL + TRIG + WAIST (13.6%). Heritability of MetS was 48% (p = 1.62 × 10(-25)), as the two most common combinations (BP + HDL + TRIG and BP + HDL + WAIST) showed heritability of 53 and 52%, respectively. The larger genetic components of the two most frequent combinations determining MetS deserve greater investigation in order to understand the underlying mechanisms. Besides, further studies are warranted to confirm these findings both in isolated and outbred populations.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Genetics-CNR, National Research Council of Italy, Via Abbiategrasso 207, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Ginevra
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biino
authors.affiliation: Institute of Population Genetics, National Research Council of Italy, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Pina
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Concas
authors.affiliation: Unit of Human Nutrition, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Hellas
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cena
authors.affiliation: Ogliastra Genetic Park, Perdasdefogu, Italy.
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Parracciani
authors.affiliation: Institute of Population Genetics, National Research Council of Italy, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vaccargiu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Population Genetics, National Research Council of Italy, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cosso
authors.affiliation: Institute of Population Genetics, National Research Council of Italy, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marras
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Traslazionali, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Vittoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: D'Esposito
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Traslazionali, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Naples, Italy ; Istituto di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Sperimentale (IEOS-CNR), Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beguinot
authors.affiliation: Institute of Population Genetics, National Research Council of Italy, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pirastu
keywords: Component; Environmental; Genetic; Metabolic syndrome; Prevalence