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Insulin resistance, obesity, and metabolic syndrome among non-diabetic pre- and post-menopausal women in North Taiwan

International Journal of Obesity volume 30, pages 912–917 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To investigate the relationship between the metabolic syndrome and its related factors among non-diabetic pre- and post-menopausal women in North Taiwan.

Design:

A cross-sectional study in a medical center in North Taiwan.

Subjects:

Five hundred and ninety-four, non-diabetic middle-aged women (age range=40–64 years, mean=48.9±5.4 years) were recruited.

Measurements:

The fasting plasma glucose, insulin, lipids levels and anthropometric indices were measured. The homeostasis model assessment was applied to estimate the degree of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Metabolic syndrome was defined by using the National Cholesterol Education Panel (NCEP) criteria and modified NCEP criteria (waist circumference >80 cm).

Results:

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 6.2% using NCEP criteria, and 8.9% using modified NCEP criteria. Post-menopausal women had a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its individual components compared to pre-menopausal women except hyperglycemia and low HDL-C. In multiple logistic regression analysis with adjustment for age and menopausal status, both BMI and HOMA-IR were independently associated with the metabolic syndrome.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was higher in post-menopausal than pre-menopausal women. Both obesity and insulin resistance may play an important role in the development of metabolic syndrome among the middle-aged women in North Taiwan.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the National Science Council of Taiwan (NSC 89-2314-B-002-094). We thank Dr Patty Li for kindly reviewing this manuscript. We also thank Miss Hsu, Mei-Yu and Mr. Chan Inn-Jei for technical assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    W-Y Lin, L-T Lee, C-Y Chen & K-C Huang

  2. Department of Family Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan

    W-Y Lin, C-S Liu & C-C Lin

  3. Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan

    W-Y Lin, C-S Liu & C-C Lin

  4. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    W-S Yang

  5. Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

    W-S Yang

  6. Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan

    W-S Yang

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  1. W-Y Lin
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Correspondence to K-C Huang.

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Lin, WY., Yang, WS., Lee, LT. et al. Insulin resistance, obesity, and metabolic syndrome among non-diabetic pre- and post-menopausal women in North Taiwan. Int J Obes 30, 912–917 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803240

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