Association of plasma aldosterone with the metabolic syndrome in two German populations

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the potential association of the plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in two German population-based studies. Methods: We selected 2830 and 2901 participants (31-80 years) from the follow-ups of the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP)-1 and the Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg (KORA) F4 respectively. MetS was defined as the presence of at least three out of the following five criteria: waist circumference >= 94 cm (men (m)) and >= 80 cm (women (w)); high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol <1.0 mmol/l (m) and <1.3 mmol/l (w); blood pressure >= 130/85 mmHg or antihypertensive treatment; non-fasting glucose (SHIP-1) >= 8 mmol/l, fasting glucose (KORA F4) >= 5.55 mmol/l or antidiabetic treatment; non-fasting triglycerides (SHIP-1) >= 2.3 mmol/l, fasting triglycerides (KORA F4) >= 1.7 mmol/l, or lipid-lowering treatment. We calculated logistic regression models by comparing the highest study-and sex-specific PAC quintiles versus all lower quintiles. Results: MetS was common with 48.1% (m) and 34.8% (w) in SHIP-1 and 42.7% (m) and 27.5% (w) in KORA F4. Our logistic regression models revealed associations of PAC with MetS, elevated triglycerides, and decreased HDL cholesterol in SHIP-1 and KORA F4. Conclusions: Our findings add to the increasing evidence supporting a relation between aldosterone and MetS and suggest that aldosterone may be involved in the pathophysiology of MetS and lipid metabolism disorders.