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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #218982
Title: Metabolic Syndrome in Elderly Living in Marginal Peri-Urban Communities in Quito, Ecuador

Author
item SEMPERTEGUI, FERNANDO - ECUAT. DE BIO, ECUADOR
item ESTRELLA, BERTHA - ECUAT. DE BIO, ECUADOR
item Tucker, Katherine
item HAMER, DAVIDSON - TUFTS HNRCA & BOST. UNIV
item NARVAEZ, XIMENA - ECUAT. DE BIO, ECUADOR
item SEMPERTEGUI, MERCY - ECUAT. DE BIO, ECUADOR
item RODRIGUEZ, ALICIA - ECUAT. DE BIO, ECUADOR
item NOEL, SABRINA - JM USDA HNRCA @ TUFTS
item Dallal, Gerald
item Selhub, Jacob
item Meydani, Simin

Submitted to: Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2007
Publication Date: 4/5/2008
Citation: Sempertegui, F., Estrella, B., Tucker, K., Hamer, D.H., Narvaez, X., Sempertegui, M., Rodriguez, A., Noel, S., Dallal, G., Selhub, J., Meydani, S. 2008. Metabolic Syndrome in Elderly Living in Marginal Peri-Urban Communities in Quito, Ecuador. Experimental Biology Annual Meeting. Abstract No. 307.6.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The number of the elderly in Latin America is expected to double in the next few decades. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. However, little is known about MetS in Latin America. The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of MetS in a low income urban area, and to evaluate the association between blood micronutrient, homocysteine (tHcy) and CRP levels with MetS. We performed a cross-sectional study of 352 elderly (greater or equal to 65 years) Ecuadorians living in a peri-urban slum community in Quito, Ecuador. MetS was prevalent (45 percent)—more so among women (53 percent) than men (29 percent). In addition, many of those without MetS exhibited one or more risk factors for MetS. Plasma micronutrient deficiencies were prevalent: greater than 70 percent for vitamin C, greater than 45% for Zinc, and greater than 20 percent for vitamin B12 and folate. Vitamin C and E concentrations were inversely, and CRP positively associated with MetS. The co-existence of MetS with micronutrient deficiencies indicates that elderly Ecuadorians suffer from the double burden of diseases associated with the nutrition transition in less-developed countries. Research is needed to determine causal factors, but interventions to normalize blood lipids, reduce hypertension and weight gain, and to improve micronutrient status, appear to be needed in this population.