Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and individual metabolic abnormalities in China, 2002-2012.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of our study was to estimate the national prevalence of metabolic syndrome, its individual components and its changes in the past decade. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Two national-representative cross-sectional surveys: the China National Nutrition and Health Survey 2002 (CNNHS 2002) and the Chinese National Nutrition and Health Surveillance 2010-2012 (CNNHS 2010-2012). A total of 48,235 and 104,098 participants aged 18 years or older who had completed data on physical examination, blood lipids, and fasting glucose tests from CNNHS 2002 and CNNHS 2010-2012, respectively, were included in current study. RESULTS: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Chinese adults increased from 9.5% (95% confident interval [CI]: 9.2%-9.7%) in 2002 to 18.7% (18.3%-19.1%) in 2010-2012, corresponding to an estimated 83.6 million adults in 2002 and 189 million adults in 2010-2012 living with metabolic syndrome in China. The increment was more than doubled among young, rural residents and those from poor households. Abdominal obesity, hyperglycemia, high triglycerides, low HDL-C, and elevated blood pressure were found in 18.9% (18.5%-19.3%), 6.4% (6.2%-6.7%), 13.8% (13.5%-14.2%), 19.3% (18.9%-19.7%), and 34.0% (33.5%-34.5%) of adults in 2002, respectively, which was 25.8% (25.3%-26.2%), 16.2% (15.8%-16.5%), 23.7% (23.3%-24.2%), 32.6% (32.0%-33.1%), and 34.4% (33.9%-34.9%), respectively, in 2010-2012. CONCLUSIONS: Based on two nationally representative surveys, our results indicated that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome is widespread and increasing in China.

[Determination of 5 heavy metals in Chinese traditional medicines and extraction liquid containing mineral materials].

Chinese traditional medicine (CTM) containing realgar may contain high levels of toxic metals, such as arsenic, etc. The monitoring of trace elements, especially the harmful elements, is closely related to the quality control of the CTM. Three kinds of CTM containing realgar were digested by microwave method and electric heating plate method, and As, Hg, Cu, Cd and Pb were determined using ICP-MS and ICP-AES. In addition, this research determined the content of soluble heavy metals in the human gastrointestinal solution. The results showed that three kinds of CTM contained As of 24 350-68 627 mg x kg(-1); Hg of 0.26-122 313.6 mg x kg(-1); Cu of 2.04-6.95 mg x kg(-1); Cd of 0.02-1.46 mg x kg(-1); Pb of 0.42-40.60 mg x kg(-1). In comparison, the contents of soluble heavy metals in the human gastrointestinal solution are: As of 81-618 mg x L(-1); Hg of 0.34-216 mg x L(-1); Cu of 1.08-215 mg x L(-1), and Pb, Cd were not detected.

Adherence to a healthy lifestyle and a DASH-style diet and risk of hypertension in Chinese individuals.

Several modifiable risk factors have been shown to lower blood pressure, but little is known about their combined risk in Chinese individuals. In this prospective cohort study, we followed 2751 subjects aged 18-60 years in the China Health and Nutrition Survey who were free of diagnosed hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes or cancer at baseline in 2000. The associations between each of the risk factors and the risk of developing incident hypertension were analyzed by gender. The three low-risk factors for hypertension were a body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 24, a moderate or heavy physical activity level ⩾0.5 h per day and a high score on the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. Low-risk factors were combined to assess their effects on the risk of hypertension. During the 11-year follow-up, we documented 1147 cases of hypertension. Three risk factors were independently associated with the risk of hypertension even after adjustment for age, alcohol intake and smoking status. Adopting all three low-risk lifestyle factors (normal BMI, DASH-style diet and physical activity) could prevent 38% (95% confidence interval (CI), 19-53%) of new hypertension cases among women and 43% (95% CI, 25-57%) of new hypertension cases among men. Adherence to a healthy lifestyle and a DASH-style diet was associated with a lower risk of hypertension.