Prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome in adult population of selected regions of the Czech Republic. Relation to eating habits and smoking.

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome is around 25% in Europe but its occurrence grows in both genders with increasing age and weight. Lifestyle factors may contribute to the risk of developing metabolic syndrome. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between metabolic syndrome and eating habits as well as length of sleep and smoking. Participants (519 women and 286 men aged 18-65 years) were chosen by random selection and questioned about their eating habits, sleep length and smoking. This information was combined with anthropometric and clinical parameters of metabolic syndrome. The female group was divided into two subgroups depending on climacteric stage (before and after menopause). Metabolic syndrome prevalence does not differ between regions in neither female (29.9%) nor male (32.5%) group. Body mass index ≥25 was detected in 50.4% of all women and 65.7% of men; 23.5% of all women and 21.7% men had body mass index ≥30. In conclusion, metabolic syndrome prevalence was proved to depend on eating habits and family heredity. Positive correlation between the above mentioned factors demonstrated itself in the total sample but not in individual regions. Metabolic syndrome prevalence in Czech adults is comparable with neighbouring countries. No significant interregional differences in metabolic syndrome prevalence within the Czech Republic were detected. In conclusion, relationship between eating habits and metabolic syndrome was confirmed.

T2D risk haplotypes of the TCF7L2 gene in the Czech population sample: the association with free fatty acids composition.

The association of transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene variants with the pathogenesis of T2D, gestational diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was examined. The study involved 1460 individuals: 347 T2D patients (D); 261 gestational diabetics (G); 147 offspring of T2D (O); 329 women with PCOS, and 376 controls (C). The SNPs: rs7901695; rs7903146; rs12255372 in the TCF7L2 gene were genotyped. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters, oGTT derived indices were assessed. In addition, free fatty acids (FFAs) were evaluated in 183 non-diabetic women. The CTT haplotype showed the strongest association with T2D with OR 1.57, p=0.0003. The frequency of the CTT/CTT haplotype was decreasing in following order: D 10.6, O 9.5, G 6.1, C 5.3 and PCOS 4.9 [%]. Among CTT carriers, significantly decreased levels of oGTT-stimulated insulin and C-peptide as well as proportions of fasting PUFAs were observed. The carriership of CTG/TCG was associated with gestational diabetes, OR 2.59, p=0.036. The association of TCF7L2 haplotypes with T2D and gestational diabetes but not with PCOS was confirmed. Novel association of TCF7L2 with FFAs composition was found.

Higher levels of salivary alpha-amylase predict failure of cessation efforts in male smokers.

The ability to predict the success or failure of smoking cessation efforts will be useful for clinical practice. Stress response is regulated by two primary neuroendocrine systems. Salivary cortisol has been used as a marker for the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical axis and salivary alpha-amylase as a marker for the sympathetic adrenomedullary system. We studied 62 chronic smokers (34 women and 28 men with an average age of 45.2+/-12.9 years). The levels of salivary cortisol and salivary alpha-amylase were measured during the period of active smoking, and 6 weeks and 24 weeks after quitting. We analyzed the men separately from the women. The men who were unsuccessful in cessation showed significantly higher levels of salivary alpha-amylase over the entire course of the cessation attempt. Before stopping smoking, salivary cortisol levels were higher among the men who were unsuccessful in smoking cessation. After quitting, there were no differences between this group and the men who were successful in cessation. In women we found no differences between groups of successful and unsuccessful ex-smokers during cessation. In conclusions, increased levels of salivary alpha-amylase before and during smoking cessation may predict failure to quit in men. On the other hand, no advantage was found in predicting the failure to quit in women. The results of our study support previously described gender differences in smoking cessation.

[Influence of iodine saturation on thyreopathy incidence in selected regions of the Czech Republic]. / Vliv saturace jódem na výskyt tyreopatií ve vybraných regionech u dospelé populace Ceské republiky.

Thyreopathy--a disorder of thyroid gland--is, together with diabetes, one of the most common endocrine diseases and, similarly to other endocrinopathies, higher prevalence is seen in women than in men. When eliminating iodine deficiency, it should to be taken into account that the mean ioduria in the general population reaches 100-200 microg/l, just 1.3% of the population does not reach ioduria of 50 microg/l and the prevalence of goitre in school children declines below 5%. The 1991 and 1997 period was a period of slight iodine deficiency (ioduria < 100 microg/I) and was followed, between 1998 and 2006, by a period of optimum iodine saturation (ioduria > 100 microg/l). Median ioduria observed over one year follow up differed in different age groups, highest values were seen in the 18-35 age group and declined with age. Median iodinuria depended on the year of follow up, age and gender (p < 0.0000). Thyroid gland hypofunction was more frequent in women and ioduria levels > 100 microg/I, thyroid gland hyperfunction was also more frequent in women but with ioduria levels < 100 microg/l. Hypofunction, subclinical hypofunction, hyperfunction and subclinical hyperfunction were more frequent in women. Of unexplained laboratory findings, isolated hypothyroxinemia was more frequent in women and isolated hyperthyroxinemia was more frequent in men. Euthyreosis was more frequent in men than women.

Relationship between pituitary-thyroid axis hormones and anthropometric parameters in Czech adult population.

Although the relationships between thyroid function and anthropometric parameters were studied in patients with thyroid disorders and in morbidly obese subjects, such data in normal healthy population are scarce. In our study, relationships between factors of body composition, fat distribution and age with hormones of the pituitary-thyroid axis were evaluated in a large, randomly selected sample of normal adult Czech population comprising of 1012 men and 1625 women. Our results exhibited weak, but significant relationships between body composition, body fat distribution and the parameters of pituitary-thyroid axis. Some of these associations were gender-specific. As shown by backward stepwise regression model, body fat distribution evaluated by centrality index (subscapular/triceps skinfold ratio) was negatively associated with free triiodothyronine (fT3) serum levels only in women, while a positive correlation of fT3 with BMI was specific for men. BMI was inversely related to free thyroxine (fT4) concentrations in women but not in men. The centrality index (CI) was positively related to TSH levels in both genders. The fT3/fT4 ratio, reflecting deiodinase activity, was inversely related to age and positively related to BMI in both genders, while the highly significant negative correlation between CI and fT3/fT4 ratio was specific for women.

[Prevalence of C-reactive protein levels in adult population in two regions in the czech republic and their relation to body composition]. / Prevalence hladin C-reaktivního proteinu u dospelé populace dvou regionu Ceské republiky a jejich vztah k telesnému slození.

UNLABELLED: Increased concentration of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is the new predictor of myocardial infarction, brain strokes, damage peripheral veins and sudden death. The aim of the study was to give an overview of current prevalence of individual risky concentrations of hsCRP in the adult population in two regions in the Czech Republic and to find a relationship to the indicators of fat tissue quantity. METHODS: test involved a representative sample of 516 adults aged 18 to 65 years (191 men and 322 women), with permanent residence in the Jablonec nad Nisou a Príbram regions. Period of testing: spring of 2004 and 2005. HsCRP was determined using the latex immunoprecipitation method with turbidimetric measurement on Cobas Integra 400 plus analyzer. The risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) was set according to the scale derived by the American Heart Association. Body fat was measured with TANITA BF 410 MA, Omron and a calliper on 4 places on the body. Waist circumference was measured half-way between the anthropometric landmarks of the iliocristale and the lower angle of the ribs. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using Quetelet formula: weight/height2. Statistical processing was done with Statgraphics Plus, version 7.1, using categorical data analysis with the chi2 statistic and Spearman's correlation analysis. RESULTS: 20.2% of cases with high CVD risk were identified in the whole sample of adults. Levels of hsCRP exceeding 10 mg/l (infectious disease indicator) at the time of the test were found in 3.9% cases (5.6% in the Jablonec region, 2.3% in the Príbram region). There were no significant regional differences for individual CVD risk categories; however, there was statistically significant difference between the two regions in terms of average hsCRP levels (with higher levels in the Jablonec region). Gender had a statistically significant impact on hsCRP levels: high CVD risk was recorded in 14.8% men and in 23.3% women. Levels of CRP indicating inflammatory disease were more frequent in women (4.7%) than in men (2.6%). The frequency of risk levels of hsCRP in adults significantly grows with age. Spearman's correlation analysis showed the closest relationship between hsCRP and body fat weight (r(S) = 0.5124). A statistically important positive CRP levels relationship was shown both in subcutaneous fat and visceral fat. CONCLUSION: One fifth of the adult population in two regions of the Czech Republic have at the present time levels of hsCRP which indicate a high cardiovascular risk. The risk is higher in women than in men and it doubles starting at 50 years of age and over. Positive correlation between hsCRP levels and body fat indicators was conformed both for visceral and subcutaneous fat.

[Changes in iodine supply in adult Czech population after iodine deficit eradication and causes. Random study of adults in two regions in the Czech republic with in between period of 5 years]. / Zmeny v zásobeni jodem Ceské dospelé populace po eradikaci jodového deficitu a jejich príciny. Randomizovaná studie dospelé populace dvou regionu Ceské republiky s odstupem 5 let.

INTRODUCTION: By iodine, similar to many other elements that are important for human body, the daily intake has some limitations. Neither deficiency, nor surplus are required. In the second half of the nineties in the 20th century, iodine deficiency in Czech republic could have been eradicated to a great extent. However, changes in iodine supply in population still have to be monitored, looking for the causes in nutrition. AIM: To monitor the changes in ioduria in adult population and search for causes of these changes in dietary habits. METHODS: In 1999, 2000, 2004 and 2005, urinary iodine was determined in randomly selected population of 1139 adults aged 18 to 65, domiciled in the regions Jablonec nad Nisou or Príbram. The measurement of iodine was based on alcaline ashing of urine specimens preceding Sandell-Koldhoff reaction. The information about possible nutrition sources of iodine (seafood, milk, salt, eggs, mineral water) was found out through questionnaires and controlled interviews. RESULTS: During the respective 5 years, significant increase of the mean level of urinary iodine from 117 +/- 3.09 microg/l to 193 +/- 8.17 microg/l occured. In both regions, significant increased frequency of supernormal values of urinary iodine (over 300 microg/l) occured: from 0% to 13-18%. However, the changes in the region Jablonec nad Nisou were more positive than in the other one: decrease of below-normal urinary iodine concentration (50 to 99 microg/l) from 43% to 22% in the region Jablonec nad Nisou was found, while the number of below-normal urinary iodine concentration in the other region increased from 24% to 33% and the number of adults with optimum iodine concentration has also decreased (from 75% to 53%). Nutrition changes of possible influence on the urinary iodine concentration (seafood, milk, eggs, salt, mineral water with iodine) were observed and significant increase in consumption of eggs, mineral water with iodine and milk was found out. The consumption of mineral water with iodine has increased from 5% to 10% in Jablonec nad Nisou and from 15% to 26% in Príbram. Multi-factor analysis of four major nutrition sources of iodine (consumption of milk, seafood, eggs and salt) has proven the biggest influence of regular egg and milk consumption on urinary iodine concentration in adults.