Fit heart curbs risk of ‘metabolic syndrome’

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – A person’s cardiorespiratory
fitness is a strong predictor of their risk of developing
metabolic syndrome — a cluster of heart disease and diabetes
risk factors including excess body weight, high blood pressure,
high cholesterol, and high blood sugar.

“Our data suggest higher fitness levels provide protection
against metabolic syndrome even in individuals with increased
susceptibility because of existing metabolic risk factors,”
lead author Dr. Michael J. LaMonte, from The Cooper Institute
in Dallas, said in a statement.

The findings, reported in the Circulation: Journal of the
American Heart Association, are based on a study of 10,498
subjects who had their cardiovascular fitness level determined
at baseline and were then followed for around 5 years to assess
the occurrence of metabolic syndrome.

In both sexes, the risk of metabolic syndrome fell with
increasing level of cardiorespiratory fitness, as measured by
walking on a treadmill.

For men, the risk of metabolic syndrome was 26 percent
lower for those who were moderately fit and 53 percent lower
for those who were highly fit, compared to those who were less
fit.

For women, the risk of metabolic syndrome was 20 percent
lower for those who were moderately fit and 63 percent lower
for those who were highly fit, compared to those who were less
fit.

The protective effect of increased cardiorespiratory
fitness was observed in men and women and remained significant
even after the researchers adjusted for features of the
metabolic syndrome that were present at the start of the study.

Increasing physical activity may help prevent the metabolic
syndrome, especially in adults who have already begun to show
signs of the disorder, the researchers conclude.

Studies have shown that most individuals can achieve
moderate levels of cardiorespiratory fitness through 30 to 40
minutes of brisk walking about 5 days per week. The highest
level of fitness is likely to be achieved through vigorous
jogging, running, biking, or swimming for 20 to 30 minutes per
day about 3 to 5 days per week.

SOURCE: Circulation July 26, 2005.