Study on Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Women

Premenopausal women who consume higher amounts of curry and postmenopausal women with a higher daily vitamin B2 intake are less likely to have metabolic syndrome (MetS), according to a study of women in Korea published in Menopause.

This study, conducted by two Korean researchers, tried to demonstrate the associations between metabolic syndrome (MetS) during menopause and serum heavy metal levels and vitamin and curry consumption.

The researchers collected a data set of 7,131 pre-and postmenopausal women aged 20 years collected between 2009 and 2017 to obtain information on sociodemographic, lifestyles, family histories, food intakes, and serum heavy metal levels, and metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Logistic regression was used to identify associations between the presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and risk factors and to predict risks of metabolic syndrome (MetS) based on marginal effects.

Key Findings

• Postmenopausal women had a higher risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) than premenopausal women.
• During post menopause, elevations in the levels of serum cadmium by one unit increased the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) by 33%.
• Risks of MetS in pre-and postmenopausal women, when serum Hb levels increased by 1 unit, increased 21% and 26%, respectively. Furthermore, the risk of MetS in pre-and postmenopausal women increased 2.49-fold and 2.79-fold by a 1% increase in HbA1c level, respectively.
• High curry consumption reduced the risk of MetS significantly more than low curry consumption in premenopausal women.
• An increase in daily vitamin B2 intake by 1 mg reduced the risk of MetS by 45% in postmenopausal women.

The researchers concluded that Vitamin B2 and curry supplementation may protect against metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, further research is required to reduce risk factors associated with heavy metals and determine the effects of vitamins and curry consumption on MetS during menopause.

Reference

Effects of heavy metal, vitamin, and curry consumption on metabolic syndrome during menopause: a Korean community-based cross-sectional study by Hai Duc Nguyen and Min-Sun Kim published in Menopause.

DOI: 10.1097/GME.0000000000001825