Jung Ran Choi

A prospective study of leucocyte mitochondrial DNA content and deletion in association with the metabolic syndrome

Diabetes & Metabolism - In Press.Proof corrected by the author Available online since mercredi 2 novembre 2016

Serum Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 and New-Onset Metabolic Syndrome: KoGES-ARIRANG Study

Purpose Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a crucial metabolic regulator, with multiple favorable effects on glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism. Since serum FGF21 level has been implicated as a potential marker for the early identification of metabolic syndrome (MetS), we investigated the association between serum FGF21 level and the development of MetS in a population-based prospective study. Materials and Methods We conducted a prospective study of 221 randomly sampled adults without MetS from a general population-based cohort study who were examined from 2005–2008 (baseline) and from 2008–2011 (follow-up). Baseline serum FGF21 levels were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results During the average 2.8-year follow-up period, 82 participants (36.6%) developed new-onset MetS. Serum FGF21 levels were significantly higher in patients with new-onset MetS than in those without MetS (209.56±226.80 vs. 110.09±81.10, p<0.01). In multivariate adjusted models, the odds for MetS development were greater in patients with serum FGF21 levels in the highest quartile, compared to those in the lowest quartile (3.84, 95% confidence interval: 1.59–9.28). Conclusion Serum FGF21 level was an independent predictor for new-onset MetS in a population-based prospective study.

Exposure to Pesticides and the Prevalence of Diabetes in a Rural Population in Korea

Background: Among the adverse health effects of exposure to pesticides, an association with diabetes has been reported. However, there is a lack of epidemiologic studies on the health effects of exposure to pesticides, particularly investigating the association between occupational pesticide exposure and diabetes prevalence. Purpose: The present study examined the association between pesticide exposure and prevalence of diabetes in a rural population in Korea. Methods: This cross‐sectional study used data from the Korea Farmers Cohort study, and included 2559 participants in the baseline survey between November 2005 and January 2008. We performed a clinical examination including blood sampling and assessed data on diabetes diagnosis, demographics, and pesticide exposure. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the association between pesticide exposure and diabetes prevalence, adjusting for age, sex, monthly income, and marital status. In addition, a stratified analysis by body mass index (BMI) was conducted, with two categories: normal weight (<25 kg/m2) and overweight or obese (≥25 kg/m2). Results: At baseline, the prevalence of diabetes was 9.30%. Pesticide exposure was associated with the risk of diabetes after adjustment for covariates. In the analysis stratified by BMI, all the variables related to pesticide exposure were associated with prevalence of diabetes in the overweight or obese group, whereas no significant association was found in the normal weight group. Conclusion: Exposure to pesticides was associated with diabetes, and this association was stronger in overweight or obese individuals than in normal weight individuals. Further longitudinal studies that consider information on BMI are necessary. HIGHLIGHTSWe report an association between pesticide exposure and diabetes in Korean adults.The association was stronger in overweight/obese than in normal weight people.Pesticide use may contribute to high rates of diabetes.

Contribution of obesity as an effect regulator to an association between serum leptin and incident metabolic syndrome

BACKGROUND We investigated whether serum leptin can be a predictor for incident cases of MetS in a population-based study. METHODS This is a prospective cohort study of 1590 adults aged between 40 and 70 years, who did not have MetS in 2005-2008 (at baseline) and 2008-2011 (follow-up). The baseline serum leptin concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS During an average of 2.8 years of follow-up, 113 men (17.1%) and 148 women (15.9%) developed MetS. In multivariable adjusted models, the odds ratio of incident MetS when comparing the lowest to the highest quartiles of leptin levels was 3.17 in men and 2.79 in women; nevertheless, the significance disappeared after adjusting for the body mass index (BMI). In subsidiary analyses by BMI, logistic regression analysis showed that subjects with the highest tertile of serum leptin level were 3.04 and 2.12 times more likely to have MetS than those with the lowest tertile in lean subjects (OR 3.04; 95% CI 1.44-6.41; p = .004 in men vs. OR 2.12; 95% CI 1.06-4.25; p = .036 in women, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Obesity is an effect regulator, which can predict an association between increased serum leptin level and the incidence of MetS in lean subjects.