Open AccessReview: Metabolic Syndrome in Black South African Women
Author(s) -
Philippe Jean-Luc Gradidge,
Nigel J. Crowther
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
ethnicity and disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.767
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1945-0826
pISSN - 1049-510X
DOI - 10.18865/ed.27.2.189
Subject(s) - medicine , metabolic syndrome , obesity , adiponectin , vitamin d and neurology , population , abdominal obesity , endocrinology , demography , insulin resistance , environmental health , sociology
The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is increasing in African populations, and is particularly high in Black South African women (42%) vs women in the United Kingdom (23%) and the United States of America (36%). This population group is also known to have the highest prevalence of obesity in the sub-Saharan African region (42%), and consequently, a high risk of non-communicable diseases. In this article, we discuss factors (abdominal subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, lean mass, adiponectin, leptin, vitamin D, smoking and menopausal status) that have been investigated for their possible association with metabolic syndrome in African women, and discuss some recommendations for management of the syndrome. In particular, the infrastructural development of HIV/AIDS clinics in South Africa provides an ideal integrated platform to cater to the treatment needs of patients with multiple chronic morbidities.Ethn Dis. 2017(27):189-200; doi:10.18865/ed.27.2.189