Cardiovascular Fitness Inversely Linked to Risk of Metabolic Syndrome

Higher fitness levels provide 63% protection against metabolic syndrome even in individuals with increased susceptibility because of existing metabolic risk factors.

A person’s cardiorespiratory fitness, as measured on a treadmill test, is a strong independent predictor of their risk of metabolic syndrome, according to a new report. The researchers say greater fitness could prevent people with some components of metabolic syndrome going on to develop the whole cluster of disorders.

"Our data suggest higher fitness levels provide protection against metabolic syndrome even in individuals with increased susceptibility because of existing metabolic risk factors," lead author Dr. Michael J. LaMonte, from The Cooper Institute in Dallas, said in a statement.

The findings, are based on a study of 10,498 subjects who had their cardiovascular fitness level determined at baseline and were then followed for around 5 years to assess the occurrence of metabolic syndrome.

In both sexes, the risk of metabolic syndrome fell with each successive fitness level. For men, the middle and upper tertiles of fitness reduced the risk of metabolic syndrome by 26% and 53%, respectively, relative to the lowest tertile. The corresponding reductions in women were 20% and 63%.

In men, even with various metabolic syndrome components at baseline, fitness showed a significant inverse association with metabolic syndrome risk. In women, by contrast, the association was only significant if no components were present at baseline.
"We believe that clinicians should counsel their sedentary patients to become more physically active and to improve their cardiorespiratory fitness as part of the primary prevention of metabolic syndrome," the authors conclude.
Circulation 2005.

================================

FACT:
Did you Knows: There is No Need for finger Sticking Anymore!
The finger stick has been the method of self-management that people with diabetes have learned to live with but certainly don’t enjoy. Fingertips are very tender spots. In a study it showed that pricking your palm—which has high capillary density but fewer pain receptors—yielded equivalent results to fingertip testing and no new meter is required.
Abstract #391 ADA 65th Scientific Sessions