Comparison of the triglyceride-waist circumference and the C-reactive protein-waist circumference indices in nascent metabolic syndrome.

Abstract

The Hypertriglyceridemia waist (HTGW) appears to be a valid measure of visceral adiposity, metabolic syndrome (MetS), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Since the cut points differ for different race groups recent studies have instead used the simplified product of triglycerides and waist circumference (TG.WC). In our patients with nascent MetS (without the confounding of T2DM, ASCVD, smoking and macro-inflammation) we found that only 41% had an increased HTGW. Since MetS is a pro-inflammatory disorder we compared the product of CRP to WC (CRP.WC) to TG.WC in our patients with nascent MetS as biomarkers. Patients with MetS (n=58) and matched controls (n=44) were recruited. Fasting blood samples were obtained for routine laboratories including the lipid profile, insulin, and adipokines. Both the TG.WC and CRP.WC indices were significantly increased in MetS and both increased with increasing severity of MetS. Whilst both correlated with cardio-metabolic features and insulin resistance, only the CRP.WC correlated significantly with adiponectin, an adipokine largely deriving from visceral adipose tissue. The TG.WC correlated with LDL-cholesterol which was not increased in this group. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that both ratios showed good discrimination for MetS with no significant differences between ratios. Thus both the TG.WC and CRP.WC indices are significantly increased in patients with nascent MetS and appear to be valid biomarkers of MetS.