*Co esponding au ho : Melissa del Ca men De Anda Mi anda
Copy igh © 2025 Au ho (s) e ain he copy igh o his a icle. This a icle is published unde he e ms o he C ea i e Commons A ibu ion Liscense 4.0.
Me abolic synd ome in adul s: Diagnos ic c i e ia
Melissa del Ca men De Anda Mi anda * and Alejand o Alonso Al ami ano
Biological and Heal h Sciences Di ision, Au onomous Me opoli an Uni e si y, Xochimilco, Coyoacán, Mexico Ci y, Mexico,
14300
Wo ld Jou nal o Biology Pha macy and Heal h Sciences, 2025, 23(03), 509-513
Publica ion his o y: Recei ed on 23 Augus 2025; e ised on 27 Sep embe 2025; accep ed on 30 Sep embe 2025
A icle DOI: h ps://doi.o g/10.30574/wjbphs.2025.23.3.0879
Abs ac
Me abolic synd ome (MS) ep esen s a clus e o in e ela ed me abolic diso de s ha inc ease he isk o
ca dio ascula disease, ype 2 diabe es and o he heal h condi ions. The g owing p e alence o me abolic synd ome
highligh s he impo ance o unde s anding i s diagnos ic c i e ia and e iology, making he iden i ica ion o diagnos ic
ma ke s c ucial o ea ly de ec ion and in e en ion. This a icle e iews he diagnos ic c i e ia p oposed by di e en
associa ions, as well as i s e iology and impo ance in clinical p ac ice and public heal h. (1)
Keywo ds: Me abolic synd ome; Diagnos ic c i e ia; Insulin esis ance; Abdominal obesi y; Blood p essu e;
Choles e ol; T iglyce ides
1. In oduc ion
Me abolic synd ome has eme ged as a global public heal h conce n, a ec ing millions o people and con ibu ing
signi ican ly o mo bidi y and mo ali y in adul popula ions. I is cha ac e ized by a se o condi ions including
abdominal obesi y, hype ension, dyslipidemia, and insulin esis ance. Ea ly de ec ion and implemen a ion o
diagnos ic c i e ia o each popula ion a e essen ial o p e en se e e complica ions, which makes i necessa y o
es ablish clea and p ecise diagnos ic c i e ia. (2)
1.1. Me abolic Synd ome
Me abolic synd ome (MS) has become inc easingly consolida ed in ecen decades as a clinically and epidemiologically
ele an e m due o i s close associa ion wi h ype 2 diabe es (T2D), a he oscle o ic ca dio ascula disease (CVD), and
p ema u e mo ali y. I desc ibes he coexis ence in he same indi idual o a se o in e ela ed me abolic and
hemodynamic abno mali ies including abdominal obesi y, insulin esis ance, a he ogenic dyslipidemia (cha ac e ized
by hype iglyce idemia and low HDL choles e ol), as ing hype glycemia o impai ed glucose me abolism, and
hype ension. This clus e ing o ac o s con e s a highe ca dio ascula and me abolic isk han he sum o each
componen alone, jus i ying i s conside a ion as a complex and independen clinical en i y. (3)
The concep was i s in oduced by Rea en in 1988 unde he e m “synd ome X,” ocused on insulin esis ance as he
cen al pa hophysiological mechanism (4). Subsequen ly, in e na ional o ganiza ions such as he Wo ld Heal h
O ganiza ion (WHO), he Na ional Choles e ol Educa ion P og am (NCEP), he In e na ional Diabe es Fede a ion (IDF),
and ecen ly, he join s a emen o he AHA/NHLBI and IDF ha e p oposed ope a ional de ini ions aimed a
s anda dizing i s managemen in clinical p ac ice and esea ch. These de ini ions a y in he diagnos ic c i e ia used
and in he cu -o poin s o each a iable, bu all ag ee ha cen al obesi y and insulin esis ance play a undamen al
ole in he pa hophysiology o he synd ome (5).
Wo ld Jou nal o Biology Pha macy and Heal h Sciences, 2025, 23(03), 509-513
510
F om a pa hophysiological s andpoin , me abolic synd ome is unde s ood as he clinical mani es a ion o a complex
me abolic imbalance esul ing om he in e ac ion o gene ic, epigene ic, and en i onmen al ac o s. The p og essi e
inc ease in isce al adipose issue igge s a s a e o low-g ade ch onic in lamma ion and endo helial dys unc ion
media ed by he sec e ion o adipokines and p o-in lamma o y cy okines. In u n, his p olonged in lamma o y s a e
con ibu es o he de elopmen o insulin esis ance and al e a ions in lipid and ca bohyd a e me abolism, a o ing an
inc eased isk o ype 2 diabe es and a he oscle osis (6).
In e ms o public heal h, me abolic synd ome ep esen s a global p oblem. I s p e alence has isen wi h he obesi y
and seden a y li es yle epidemic, key ac o s in ol ed in he onse o his synd ome and as p ecu so s o ch onic-
degene a i e diseases p e iously men ioned, cu en ly a ec ing be ween 20% and 40% o he adul popula ion,
depending on he diagnos ic c i e ia applied and he geog aphic egion analyzed. In La in Ame ica, p e alence is
pa icula ly high and has become a challenge o heal hca e sys ems due o he signi ican mo bidi y bu den associa ed
wi h i (7).
The e o e, he de ini ion o me abolic synd ome is no limi ed solely o a se o labo a o y alues and an h opome ic
measu emen s bu ep esen s a clinical diagnosis ha allows he iden i ica ion o indi iduals a g ea e isk o
ca diome abolic complica ions. P omo ing ea ly p e en ion s a egies and guiding public heal h policies is essen ial o
p e en ch onic-degene a i e diseases ha , o e ime, will impac indi iduals’ quali y o li e and gene a e highe cos s
associa ed wi h ea men and i s consequences. Despi e he exis ence o di e en de ini ions, he e is consensus in
ecognizing me abolic synd ome as a use ul isk s a i ica ion ool, wi h bo h clinical and epidemiological alue, whose
impo ance lies in i s abili y o in eg a e mul iple dimensions o me abolic isk in o a single diagnos ic ca ego y.
1.2. Diagnos ic C i e ia
The diagnos ic c i e ia o me abolic synd ome ha e been de ined by se e al o ganiza ions, including he In e na ional
Diabe es Fede a ion (IDF), he Ame ican Hea Associa ion (AHA), he Ame ican Diabe es Associa ion (ADA), and he
Wo ld Heal h O ganiza ion (WHO). Despi e di e ences in h eshold alues and he inclusion o ce ain a iables, all
ecognize abdominal obesi y and insulin esis ance as cen al ea u es. A diagnosis gene ally equi es h ee o mo e o
he ollowing: abdominal obesi y, ele a ed iglyce ides, low HDL choles e ol, ele a ed blood p essu e, and ele a ed
as ing glucose. (5)
The diagnos ic c i e ia o me abolic synd ome ha e been de ined by se e al o ganiza ions, among which he ollowing
s and ou :
In e na ional Diabe es Fede a ion (IDF) c i e ia
• Abdominal obesi y: Wais ci cum e ence (WC) > 94 cm in men and > 80 cm in women.
P esence o a leas wo o he ollowing ac o s:
• T iglyce ides: ≥ 150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L) o ea men o dyslipidemia.
• HDL choles e ol: < 40 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/L) in men; < 50 mg/dL (1.3 mmol/L) in women.
• Blood p essu e: ≥ 130/85 mmHg o ea men o hype ension.
• Glucose: ≥ 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) o diagnosis o diabe es.
Ame ican Hea Associa ion (AHA) and Ame ican Diabe es Associa ion (ADA) c i e ia
Simila o he IDF c i e ia, hese emphasize abdominal obesi y as he main c i e ion and equi e h ee o he ollowing
i e ac o s:
• Highe wais ci cum e ence.
• High iglyce ides.
• Low HDL choles e ol.
• High blood p essu e.
• High glucose.
Wo ld Heal h O ganiza ion (WHO) c i e ia
The WHO also conside s insulin esis ance as a c i e ion, adding he equi emen o wo o he ollowing:
Wo ld Jou nal o Biology Pha macy and Heal h Sciences, 2025, 23(03), 509-513
511
• Abdominal obesi y.
• High iglyce ides.
• Low HDL choles e ol.
• High blood p essu e.
• High glucose.
Diagnos ic c i e ia o me abolic synd ome ha e been de ined by di e en o ganiza ions al oge he . The Ame ican Hea
Associa ion (AHA), he Ame ican College o Ca diology (ACC), and he Wo ld Heal h O ganiza ion (WHO) p esen simila
de ini ions ha speci ically include he ollowing componen s:
• Abdominal obesi y: Wais ci cum e ence measu emen .
o Men: > 102 cm
o Women: > 88 cm
• High iglyce ides:
≥ 150 mg/dL o speci ic ea men o dyslipidemia.
• Low HDL choles e ol:
o Men: < 40 mg/dL
o Women: < 50 mg/dL
• A e ial hype ension:
Blood p essu e ≥ 130/85 mmHg o speci ic ea men .
• Hype glycemia:
o Fas ing glucose ≥ 100 mg/dL o diagnosis o diabe es.
o Fo diagnosis, he p esence o a leas h ee o hese c i e ia is equi ed. (5)
1.3. E iology
The e iology o me abolic synd ome is mul i ac o ial and ela ed o gene ic, en i onmen al, and li es yle ac o s. The
main con ibu o s include:
• Obesi y: The accumula ion o a , especially in he abdominal a ea, is s ongly associa ed wi h he de elopmen
o me abolic synd ome.
• Seden a y Li es yle and Habi s: A seden a y li es yle con ibu es o weigh gain and insulin esis ance.
• Die : Die s high in simple suga s, sa u a ed a s, and low in ibe a e signi ican isk ac o s.
• Gene ics: Gene ic p edisposi ion plays a ole in indi idual suscep ibili y o me abolic synd ome.
• Psychological Fac o s: Ch onic s ess and lack o sleep may also in luence he de elopmen o he synd ome
by a ec ing ho monal egula ion and ea ing beha io . (8)
1.4. Impo ance o Ea ly Diagnosis
Ea ly de ec ion o me abolic synd ome allows he implemen a ion o p e en i e and he apeu ic s a egies, including
li es yle modi ica ions, die a y in e en ions, inc eased physical ac i i y, and pha macological ea men s. Gi en he
global obesi y epidemic, egula e alua ion o me abolic synd ome is essen ial. (9)
1.5. E hnic and Cul u al Conside a ions
Diagnos ic h esholds may need adjus men acco ding o he s udied popula ion. Fo example, e hnic di e ences in body
a dis ibu ion may equi e speci ic wais ci cum e ence cu -o s. (10)
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512
2. Resul s
Table 1 Compa ison o diagnos ic c i e ia. P epa ed by he au ho s
C i e ia
WHO
NCEP-ATP III
IDF
AHA
ACC
Abdominal
obesi y
WC >102 cm (M), >88
cm (F) o BMI >30
kg/m²
WC >102 cm
(M), >88 cm (F)
WC >94 cm (M),
>80 cm (F)
WC >102 cm
(M), >88 cm (F)
WC >102 cm
(M), >88 cm (F)
T iglyce ides
≥150 mg/dL (1.7
mmol/L)
≥150 mg/dL
(1.7 mmol/L)
≥150 mg/dL
(1.7 mmol/L)
≥150 mg/dL
(1.7 mmol/L)
≥150 mg/dL
(1.7 mmol/L)
HDL
choles e ol
<35 mg/dL (M), <39
mg/dL (F)
<40 mg/dL (M),
<50 mg/dL (F)
<40 mg/dL (M),
<50 mg/dL (F)
<40 mg/dL (M),
<50 mg/dL (F)
<40 mg/dL (M),
<50 mg/dL (F)
Blood
p essu e
≥140/90 mmHg o
ea men
≥130/85 mmHg
o ea men
≥130/85 mmHg
o ea men
≥130/85 mmHg
o ea men
≥130/85 mmHg
o ea men
Fas ing
glucose
≥110 mg/dL (6.1
mmol/L) o ≥100
mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L)
≥100 mg/dL
(5.6 mmol/L)
≥100 mg/dL
(5.6 mmol/L)
≥100 mg/dL
(5.6 mmol/L)
≥100 mg/dL
(5.6 mmol/L)
3. Analysis and Discussion
Me abolic synd ome is a key isk indica o o ca dio ascula diseases and ype 2 diabe es. I is also a complex condi ion
ha equi es p ecise iden i ica ion o diagnos ic c i e ia o e ec i e managemen . The use o s anda dized diagnos ic
c i e ia imp o es he iden i ica ion o indi iduals a isk and p omo es in e en ions ha may educe he mo bidi y
bu den in he popula ion. Ongoing esea ch and e lec ion on popula ion and cul u al di e ences a e essen ial o
adequa ely adap hese c i e ia o di e se heal h needs.
Acco ding o he WHO, insulin esis ance (glucose al e a ion) plus ≥2 abno mali ies (hype ension, dyslipidemia,
cen al obesi y) a e equi ed. This is less p ac ical in clinical se ings because i equi es insulin esis ance
measu emen s. Unde he NCEP ATP III p og am, diagnosis equi es ≥3 ou o 5: wais ci cum e ence (Men >102 cm;
Women >88 cm), iglyce ides ≥150 mg/dL, low HDL choles e ol (Men <40 mg/dL; Women <50 mg/dL), blood p essu e
≥130/85 mmHg, o ele a ed as ing glucose ( h eshold upda ed o ≥100 mg/dL). This de ini ion is simple and widely
used. In con as , he IDF equi es manda o y cen al obesi y (wais ci cum e ence wi h e hnici y-speci ic cu -o s) plus
≥2 o he o he ou componen s. Fo Sou h and Cen al Ame ica, i was ecommended o use Sou h Asian cu -o poin s
(Men ≥90 cm; Women ≥80 cm) un il local da a become a ailable. Meanwhile, he AHA e u ned o a scheme o ≥3 ou o
5 componen s (like ATP III), wi hou equi ing cen al obesi y, bu ecommending wais ci cum e ence cu -o s speci ic
o e hnici y o coun y when a ailable. This is he p e e ed e e ence o in e na ional compa ison and o younge
popula ions. (5)
4. Conclusions
Al hough simila i ies exis be ween he c i e ia o di e en o ganiza ions, di e ences in h eshold alues and
conside a ion o acial and cul u al ac o s can in luence he epo ed p e alence and in e en ion s a egies. Heal h
p o essionals mus he e o e apply he mos app op ia e c i e ia o hei con ex o achie e ea ly and imely
p e en ion.
Compliance wi h e hical s anda ds
Disclosu e o con lic o in e es
No con lic o in e es o be disclosed.
Wo ld Jou nal o Biology Pha macy and Heal h Sciences, 2025, 23(03), 509-513
513
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