Gerardo Huitrón

Physical activity and risk of Metabolic Syndrome in an urban Mexican cohort

BackgroundIn the Mexican population metabolic syndrome (MS) is highly prevalent. It is well documented that regular physical activity (PA) prevents coronary diseases, type 2 diabetes and MS. Most studies of PA have focused on moderate-vigorous leisure-time activity, because it involves higher energy expenditures, increase physical fitness, and decrease the risk of MS. However, for most people it is difficult to get a significant amount of PA from only moderately-vigorous leisure activity, so workplace activity may be an option for working populations, because, although may not be as vigorous in terms of cardio-respiratory efforts, it comprises a considerable proportion of the total daily activity with important energy expenditure. Since studies have also documented that different types and intensity of daily PA, including low-intensity, seem to confer important health benefits such as prevent MS, we sought to assess the impact of different amounts of leisure-time and workplace activities, including low-intensity level on MS prevention, in a sample of urban Mexican adults.MethodsThe study population consisted of 5118 employees and their relatives, aged 20 to 70 years, who were enrolled in the baseline evaluation of a cohort study. MS was assessed according to the criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program, ATP III and physical activity with a validated self-administered questionnaire. Associations between physical activity and MS risk were assessed with multivariate logistic regression models.ResultsThe prevalence of the components of MS in the study population were: high glucose levels 14.2%, high triglycerides 40.9%, high blood pressure 20.4%, greater than healthful waist circumference 43.2% and low-high density lipoprotein 76.9%. The prevalence of MS was 24.4%; 25.3% in men and 21.8% in women. MS risk was reduced among men (OR 0.72; 95%CI 0.57–0.95) and women (OR 0.78; 95%CI 0.64–0.94) who reported an amount of ≥30 minutes/day of leisure-time activity, and among women who reported an amount of ≥3 hours/day of workplace activity (OR 0.75; 95%CI 0.59–0.96).ConclusionOur results indicate that both leisure-time and workplace activity at different intensity levels, including low-intensity significantly reduce the risk of MS. This finding highlights the need for more recommendations regarding the specific amount and intensity of leisure-time and workplace activity needed to prevent MS.

Estilos de vida asociados al riesgo cardiovascular global en trabajadores universitarios del Estado de México

OBJETIVO: Evaluar la asociacion del estilo de vida con el riesgo cardiovascular (RCV) en trabajadores universitarios del Estado de Mexico. MATERIAL Y METODOS: Estudio de casos y controles anidado en una cohorte. Se evaluaron variables del estilo de vida, sociodemograficas, antropometricas y antecedentes familiares. El analisis estimo razones de momios pareadas crudas y ajustadas a traves de regresion logistica condicional. RESULTADOS: Se estudiaron 342 casos con RCV y 684 controles. En los trabajadores con sobrepeso u obesidad, el RCV supero al de aquellos con peso normal. Los antecedentes familiares de infarto del miocardio se asociaron directamente, y la actividad fisica moderada-vigorosa inversamente con el RCV, en modelos con interacciones entre genero y actividad fisica; esta relacion se mantuvo solo en los hombres. CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados muestran el papel preponderante de la actividad fisica moderada-vigorosa como factor del estilo de vida asociado con menor RCV.

Reference values for areal bone mineral density among a healthy Mexican population

OBJECTIVE Compare the influence of ethnicity in the prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in various Mexican populations using two normal dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) reference databases: manufacturers incorporating US Hispanic population and a normal mestizo Mexican population. MATERIAL AND METHODS MMP included 9 946 subjects participating in an ongoing long-term cohort study focusing on lifestyle and chronic diseases, of which 6 487 MMP males and females aged 7 to 80 years were the normal subjects used to determine bone density T- and Z-scores, following WHO criteria, and peak bone mass values. Abnormal bone mass density values estimated by the manufacturers and peak bone mass reference values were compared. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Our results show that by using the manufacturers T-score values in the mestizo Mexican population we are underestimating the number of abnormal bone mass BMD populations.

Bone Speed of Sound Throughout Lifetime Assessed With Quantitative Ultrasound in a Mexican Population

The purpose of this study was to assess the bone speed of sound (SoS) through lifetime of a large Mexican population sample by determining the SoS from the radius and tibia using quantitative ultrasound (QUS). This is a cross-sectional evaluation of participants in the Mexican Health Workers Cohort Study. QUS measurements were performed using Sunlight Omnisense 8000P; Z- and T-scores were calculated for both sexes at the distal third of the radius and midshaft tibia, both on the nondominant side. A locally weighted regression smoothing scatterplot model was used to identify different phases of bone accretion and loss. A total of 9128 participants aged 1-75 yr were measured with QUS. Bone SoS accretion began 5 yr earlier in girls than boys (p<0.05). Maximal SoS or peak bone SoS was noted at 28 yr in the radius and at 22 yr in the tibia. Postmenopausal women (45-50 yr) showed significant SOS decrease at both sites (p<0.05) compared with men. Using the locally weighted regression smoothing scatterplot model, we found 5 different phases that constitute the biological development of bone over the life course, from ages 1-6, 7-12, 12-25, 25-50, and 50-75 yr (p<0.05). Our study shows the age- and sex-dependent changes and different phases of bone development expressed by SoS measurements of the radius and tibia. The values reported in this study can be used as a reference for urban Mexican population.

Association between serum uric acid levels and cardiovascular risk among university workers from the State of Mexico: a nested case–control study

BackgroundRecent evidence suggests that serum uric acid (SUA) can be an inexpensive and easy-to-obtain indicator of cardiovascular risk (CR). This is especially important in developing countries with high prevalence of cardiovascular disease. We examined the association between SUA levels and 10-year global CR among university workers from the State of Mexico, Mexico.MethodsA case–control study nested within a cohort was conducted between 2004 and 2006. Anthropometric measures, lifestyle variables, family background and CR factors were assessed. The analysis estimated odds ratios using conditional logistic regression.ResultsThe study included 319 cases with CR and 638 controls. Subjects in the upper tertile of SUA had 48.0% higher odds of having an elevated CR than those in the lower tertile (OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.04 - 2.10) in the crude analysis, but the association was non-significant when adjusting for other covariates. Among physically inactive individuals, being in the third tertile of SUA doubled the odds of high CR, compared with those who perform physical activity three or more hours per week being in the first tertile of SUA (OR = 2.35, 95% CI: 1.24 - 4.45).ConclusionSerum concentration of uric acid is associated with 10-year global CR among individuals with high levels of physical inactivity.