Metabolic syndrome risk factors in relation to aerobic fitness in Japanese middle-aged and elderly people-analysis based on "Exercise and physical activity reference for health promotion 2006 (EPAR2006)"-

PORPOSE: This study aimed to compare the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) risk factors and its components in different levels of aerobic fitness established by "Exercise and Physical Activity Reference for Health Promotion 2006 (EPAR2006)" in Japanese middle-aged and elderly people. METHOD: Men (n=102) and women (n=133), aged 30-69yrs, participated in this study. The prevalence of MS risk factors was evaluated as the number of MS risk factors, according to the diagnostic criterion for Japanese-specific MS. Aerobic fitness was quantified as maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max). Subjects were classified into the three groups by aerobic fitness level based on "Reference values" and "Reference range" established in EPAR2006; 1) High fitness group (H) ; VO₂max (mL/kg/min) is higher than "Reference values", 2) Medium fitness group (M) ; VO ₂max is below "Reference values" but within "Reference range", 3) Low fitness group (L) ; VO₂max is lower than "Reference range". RESULTS: In men, M and L groups showed significantly higher frequency of risk factors for MS than H group (H: 1.09 ± 0.98, M: 1.81 ± 1.07, L: 2.27 ± 0.70, P < 0.01). In women, L group showed significantly higher frequency of risk factors for MS than H and M groups (H: 0.57 ± 0.80, M: 0.81 ± 1.01, L:1.53 ± 1.07, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that higher MS risk appears when the VO₂max is lower than "Reference values" in men, and below "Reference range" in women, and that particularly, men with low aerobic fitness have higher MS risk.