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Background: Previous studies showed that higher serum uric acid levels increased the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), but moderate alcohol consumption decreased it. The comparative importance of serum uric acid levels and habitual alcohol consumption as risk factors for CKD remain undefined. We therefore evaluated the relationship of baseline serum uric acid level in combination with daily alcohol consumption to the incidence of CKD.Methods: A prospective cohort study of 9,116 middle-aged nondiabetic -Japanese men without CKD nor proteinuria who were not taking antihypertensive medications nor urate-lowering medications at entry. CKD was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. We investigated the relationship of baseline serum uric acid level in combination with daily alcohol consumption to the incidence of CKD during an 11-year observation period. Daily alcohol consumption was classified into 4 groups: nondrinkers, light drinkers (0.1-23.0 g ethanol/day), moderate drinkers (23.1-46.0 g ethanol/day), and heavy drinkers (≥46.1 g ethanol/day). Cox proportional hazards models were used in multivariate analysis.Results: During the 79,361 person-years follow-up period, a total of 1,230 subjects developed CKD. In multivariate models, higher serum uric acid levels increased risk of CKD; and moderate daily alcohol consumption decreased the risk. Multiple-adjusted hazard ratios of CKD were 1.38 (95% CI 1.11-1.70), 1.58 (95% CI 1.28-1.95), 2.27 (95% CI 1.86-2.77), and 3.12 (95% CI 2.56-3.81) for quintile 2, quintile 3, quintile 4, and quintile 5 of serum uric acid levels, respectively, compared with quintile 1, and that for moderate drinkers was 0.55 (95% CI 0.46-0.66) compared with nondrinkers. In the joint analysis of alcohol consumption and serum uric acid, moderate drinkers with the lowest tertile of serum uric acid levels had the lowest risk of CKD, but nondrinkers with the highest tertile of serum uric acid levels had the highest risk of CKD.Conclusions: Serum uric acid level and daily alcohol consumption were independently associated with the risk of CKD. Nondrinkers with the highest serum uric acid level had the highest risk of CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most aluminum cylinder blocks produced using high-pressure or low-pressure die-casting processes require gray cast iron liners (GCI liners) to compensate for their insufficient wear resistance and heat resistance of the Al-Si-Cu alloys. However, the cast-in liners cause excessive residual stress at the cylinder bore region. The resultant residual stress induces distortion of the cylinder liner. These inconveniences hinder development of more efficient engines. Therefore, an accurate thermal stress analysis technique has been sought to predict the residual stress and distortion of the cylinder liner. For accurate thermal stress analysis, we have already developed an elastoplastic-creep constitutive equation for which the inelastic strain developed at high temperatures does not contribute to strain hardening that occurs at low temperatures by duplicating the recovery behavior. Our earlier investigation using this equation has already revealed that incorporation of the recovery in the alloy constitutive equation is effective for improving the prediction accuracy of the thermal stress developed during casting. However, this conclusion was obtained only for a simple shape casting with a uniaxial thermal stress state. Effects of the developed constitutive equation have not been discussed for a casting closer to an actual cylinder block. For this study, a cylindrical aluminum casting with GCI (ISO 300) insert was produced. Then, the circumferential strain of the GCI liner was measured in-situ during casting. Measurements were taken of the residual stresses of the cylindrical aluminum casting and GCI liner, and of the liner deformation at a room temperature. The experimentally obtained results supported a discussion of the predictive accuracies of the elastoplastic-creep constitutive equation and the classical elastoplastic constitutive equation. A comparison revealed that the elastoplastic-creep constitutive equation for the aluminum casting has better predictive accuracy than the classical elastoplastic equation for residual stress, liner deformation, and the circumferential strain of a GCI liner during casting. Investigation of the simulated strain components of the cylindrical aluminum casting during casting indicated incorporation of the recovery in the alloy constitutive equation as a main factor improving the predictive accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recovery behavior (recovery) and strain-rate dependence of the stress-strain curve (strain-rate dependence) are incorporated into constitutive equations of alloys to predict residual stress and thermal stress during casting. Nevertheless, few studies have systematically investigated the effects of these metallurgical phenomena on the prediction accuracy of thermal stress in a casting. This study compares the thermal stress analysis results with in situ thermal stress measurement results of an Al-Si-Cu specimen during casting. The results underscore the importance for the alloy constitutive equation of incorporating strain-rate dependence to predict thermal stress that develops at high temperatures where the alloy shows strong strain-rate dependence of the stress-strain curve. However, the prediction accuracy of the thermal stress developed at low temperatures did not improve by considering the strain-rate dependence. Incorporating recovery into the constitutive equation improved the accuracy of the simulated thermal stress at low temperatures. Results of comparison implied that the constitutive equation should include strain-rate dependence to simulate defects that develop from thermal stress at high temperatures, such as hot tearing and hot cracking. Recovery should be incorporated into the alloy constitutive equation to predict the casting residual stress and deformation caused by the thermal stress developed mainly in the low temperature range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate simulation of residual stress and deformation is necessary to optimize the design and lifetime of casting components. Therefore, the recovery and strain-rate dependence of the stress-strain curve have been incorporated into empirical constitutive equations to improve the thermal stress analysis accuracy. Nevertheless, these equations present several difficulties related to the determination of material constants and their physical bases. This study suggested an empirical elasto-plastic-creep constitutive equation incorporating these phenomena. To determine the material parameters used in this constitutive equation, this study investigated tensile test methods to obtain stress-strain curves that most closely resemble those during or immediately after casting for the Al-Si-Cu high-pressure die-casting alloy JIS ADC 12 (A383.0), which exhibits natural aging. Results show that solution heat treatment with subsequent cooling to the test temperature should be applied to obtain stress-strain curves used for the thermal stress analysis of high-pressure die casting process of this alloy. The yield stresses obtained using the conventional heating method were 50-64 pct higher than those of the method described above. Therefore, the conventional method is expected to overestimate the overestimation of the predicted residual stress in die castings. Evaluation of the developed equation revealed that it can represent alloy recovery and strain-rate dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: The association between alcohol consumption and the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been reported. What is not known is whether drinking pattern combined with the weekly frequency of alcohol consumption and the quantity per drinking day is associated with the risk of CKD. Methods: We enrolled 9,112 Japanese nondiabetic men aged 40 to 55 years with absence of proteinuria, an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 or higher, and not on antihypertensive medications at baseline. CKD was defined if eGFR was <60 ml/min/1.73 m2. The weekly frequency classification was nondrinkers, 1-3 drinking days/week, or 4-7 drinking days/week. The quantity consumed per drinking day was classified as 0.1-23.0 g ethanol/drinking day, 23.1-46.0 g ethanol/drinking day, 46.1-69.0 g ethanol/drinking day, and ≥69.1 g ethanol/drinking day. Results: During the 79,099 person-years, 1,253 subjects developed CKD. Compared to nondrinkers, those who consumed 23.1-46.0 or 46.1-69.0 g ethanol/drinking day on 4-7 drinking days/week had a decreased risk of CKD (multiple-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 0.62 (0.52-0.74) and 0.76 (0.59-0.97), respectively). The association between the quantity per drinking day and the incidence of CKD was U-shaped among each category of the weekly frequency. HRs within similar categories of quantity per drinking day were lower in the 4-7 drinking days/week group than in the 1-3 drinking days/week group. Conclusion: Among middle-aged Japanese men, the people who drank middle-range quantity, specifically who drank 4-7 days/week, had lower risk of CKD than nondrinkers. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Butyrylcholinesterase is synthesized in the liver. The serum butyrylcholinesterase level has been cross-sectionally reported to be higher in patients with diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, obesity and fatty liver than in those without them. It is not known whether serum butyrylcholinesterase is associated with the risk of future type 2 diabetes. Design A prospective cohort study. Participants A total of 8470 Japanese men aged 40-55 years without type 2 diabetes at baseline. Measurements Type 2 diabetes was diagnosed if a fasting plasma glucose ( FPG) level was ≥7·0 mmol/l, if a HbA1c level was ≥6·5% or if participants were taking oral hypoglycaemic medication or insulin. Results During the 42 227 person-years of follow-up, 868 cases had developed type 2 diabetes. Serum butyrylcholinesterase was significantly positively correlated with body mass index ( BMI), FPG, alanine aminotransferase ( ALT), γ-glutamyltransferase ( GGT) and triglycerides ( TG), whereas negatively with high-density lipoprotein ( HDL) cholesterol. In Cox proportional hazards models, after adjusting for age, BMI, FPG, alcohol consumption, smoking habit, walk to work, regular leisure-time physical activity and family history of diabetes, the highest quartile (398-806 IU/l) of serum butyrylcholinesterase increased the risk of type 2 diabetes compared with the lowest quartile (56-311 IU/l) [hazard ratio ( HR) 1·41 (95% confidence interval ( CI), 1·14-1·74)]. After further adjusting for ALT and GGT, this association remained [ HR 1·40 (95% CI, 1·13-1·73)]. Furthermore, this association was significant independent of TG and HDL cholesterol. Conclusions Elevated serum butyrylcholinesterase was independently associated with an increased risk of future type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes. However, the relationship between drinking patterns, such as the weekly frequency of alcohol consumption and the quantity per drinking day, and the incidence of type 2 diabetes has not been sufficiently addressed. Methods Study participants included 10 631 Japanese men aged 40e55 years without type 2 diabetes at entry. Type 2 diabetes was diagnosed if a fasting plasma glucose level was $7.0 mmol/l or if participants were taking diabetes medications. Data on alcohol consumption were obtained from questionnaires. Results During the 37 172 person-years of follow-up, we confirmed 878 cases of type 2 diabetes. Frequent alcohol consumption was associated with a low risk of type 2 diabetes. Compared to non-drinkers, the multiple-adjusted HR for those who drank 4e7 days weekly was 0.76 (95% CI, 0.63 to 0.92). To assess the association between drinking pattern and type 2 diabetes, we examined the joint association of the weekly frequency and the quantity per drinking day with type 2 diabetes. Men who consumed 0.1e2.0 or 2.1e4.0 US standard drinks per drinking day on 4e7 days weekly had a lower risk of type 2 diabetes (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.95; HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.91, respectively) compared to non-drinkers. Conclusions More frequent alcohol consumption lowered the risk of type 2 diabetes. Light to moderate alcohol consumption per drinking day on 4e7 days weekly lowered the risk of type 2 diabetes compared to non-drinkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: No prospective studies have estimated the association between white blood cell (WBC) count and the risk of proteinuria. We prospectively examined the relationships of WBC count, as a marker of inflammation, with two outcomes: proteinuria and low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Methods: We enrolled 10,008 Japanese men aged 40-55 years who had neither proteinuria nor low eGFR and were not taking antihypertensive medications at entry. Proteinuria was defined as 1+ or higher on urine dipstick. Low eGFR was defined if eGFR was <60 ml/min/1.73 m2. Results: During the 49,644 person-years of follow-up, 1,557 cases of proteinuria were confirmed. After adjusting for age, body mass index, fasting plasma glucose, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, antidiabetic medications, alcohol consumption, smoking, regular leisure-time physical activity and eGFR, the highest quintile (≥7.51 × 103/μl) of WBC count was independently associated with an increased risk of incidence of proteinuria [HR: 1.45 (95% CI: 1.23-1.73)] compared with the lowest quintile (≤4.80 × 103/μl). On the other hand, during 52,833 person-years, we confirmed 439 cases of low eGFR. In multivariate models, there was no association between WBC count and low eGFR. Conclusion: Elevated WBC count was independently associated with an increased risk of proteinuria, but not low eGFR. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:It has been reported that a continuous intake of a catechin beverage will reduce body fat. Traditionally, improvement of eating and exercise habits has been the basis for prevention and reduction of obesity. In this study, we conducted a trial involving human subjects who ingested a catechin beverage for 1 year under nutritional guidance.Methods:This study was conducted based on a comprehensive cohort design using a catechin beverage (containing 588 mg of tea catechins) and a control beverage (containing 126 mg of tea catechins). At both the start and the end of the trial, the subjects underwent an annual health check and computer tomography for measurement of their abdominal fat. In addition, a food intake survey was conducted and all subjects were provided nutritional guidance by a registered dietitian every 3 months.Results:Data were analyzed using per protocol samples of 134 subjects (catechin group, n 77; control group, n 57). Body weight and body mass index were reduced significantly in the catechin group compared to the control group. Changes in body weight during the study period were −1.1 kg in the catechin group and 0.2 kg in the control group. In the catechin group, the visceral fat areas at the start of the trial were significantly correlated with the magnitude of fat reduction at the end of the trial. Under the guidance of a registered dietitian, subjects in the catechin group who showed a reduction in their fat-derived energy percentage during the test period tended to reduce more body weight than those with an increase in this percentage, although no difference in total energy intake was noted between the two groups. One-year ad libitumconsumption of a catechin beverage posed no health risks and resulted in a reduction in body weight.Conclusions:An overall improvement in dietary habits might enhance the weight-reduction effect of the beverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE--It has been reported that moderate alcohol consumption decreased the risk of type 2 diabetes but that elevated liver enzymes increased it. The comparative importance of alcohol consumption and liver enzymes as predictors of type 2 diabetes remains unconfirmed. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--The participants included 8,576 Japanese men, aged 40-55 years, without type 2 diabetes at entry. Type 2 diabetes was diagnosed if a fasting plasma glucose level was ≥126 mg/dl or if participants were taking oral hypoglycemic medications or insulin. RESULTS--During the 4-year follow-up period, we confirmed 878 cases. In multivariate models, moderate daily alcohol consumption (16.4-42.6 g ethanol/day) decreased the risk of type 2 diabetes, and higher levels of γ-glutamyhransferase (GGT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) increased the risk. In joint analyses of alcohol consumption and liver enzymes, moderate drinkers with the lowest tertile of GGT had the lowest risk of type 2 diabetes. Compared with them, nondrinkers with the highest GGT had the highest risk of type 2 diabetes (odds ratio 3.18 [95% CI 1.75-5.76]). At every level of GGT, moderate or heavy alcohol drinkers (≥42.7 g ethanol/day) had a lower risk of type 2 diabetes than nondrinkers. The relationship of ALT and daily alcohol consumption with the risk of type 2 diabetes was almost the same as that of GGT. CONCLUSIONS--GGT, ALT, and daily alcohol consumption were independently associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes. Nondrinkers with the highest GGT or ALT had a high risk of type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We prospectively assessed whether the combined measurements of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and A1C were effective for predicting type 2 diabetes.Research Design and Methods: Study participants included 6,736 nondiabetic Japanese men aged 40-55 years. Type 2 diabetes was diagnosed in those who had an FPG >or=126 mg/dl or who were being treated with an oral antidiabetic agent or insulin. The models including FPG, A1C, and both were compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curves.Results: During the 4-year follow-up period, we confirmed 659 diabetes cases. In multivariate analysis, both FPG and A1C were independently associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes. The model including both FPG and A1C had a greater AUROC curve than that including FPG alone (0.853 vs. 0.818; P < 0.001) or A1C alone (0.853 vs. 0.771; P < 0.001).Conclusions: The combined measurement of FPG and A1C was effective for predicting type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE -- We prospectively assessed whether the combined measurements of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and A1C were effective for predicting type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS-- Study participants included 6,736 nondiabetic Japanese men aged 40-55 years. Type 2 diabetes was diagnosed in those who had an FPG ≥126 mg/dl or who were being treated with an oral antidiabetic agent or insulin. The models including FPG, A1C, and both were compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curves. RESULTS -- During the 4-year follow-up period, we confirmed 659 diabetes cases. In multivariate analysis, both FPG and A1C were independently associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes. The model including both FPG and A1C had a greater AUROC curve than that including FPG alone (0.853 vs. 0.818; P < 0.001) or A1C alone (0.853 vs. 0.771; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS -- The combined measurement of FPG and A1C was effective for predicting type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Because skeletal muscle is one of the target tissues for insulin, skeletal muscle mass might be associated with type 2 diabetes. Serum creatinine is a possible surrogate marker of skeletal muscle mass. The purpose of this study was to determine whether serum creatinine level is associated with type 2 diabetes.Research Design and Methods: The study participants were nondiabetic Japanese men (n = 8,570) aged 40-55 years at entry. Type 2 diabetes was diagnosed if fasting plasma glucose was >or=126 mg/dl or if participants were taking oral hypoglycemic medication or insulin.Results: During the 4-year follow-up period, 877 men developed type 2 diabetes. Lower serum creatinine was associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. The multiple-adjusted odds ratio for those who had serum creatinine levels between 0.40 and 0.60 mg/dl was 1.91 (95% CI 1.44-2.54) compared with those who had levels between 0.71 and 0.80 mg/dl.Conclusions: Lower serum creatinine increased the risk of type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE -- Because skeletal muscle is one of the target tissues for insulin, skeletal muscle mass might be associated with type 2 diabetes. Serum creatinine is a possible surrogate marker of skeletal muscle mass. The purpose of this study was to determine whether serum creatinine level is associated with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS-- The study participants were nondiabetic Japanese men (n = 8,570) aged 40-55 years at entry. Type 2 diabetes was diagnosed if fasting plasma glucose was ≥ 126 mg/dl or if participants were taking oral hypoglycemic medication or insulin. RESULTS-- During the 4-year follow-up period, 877 men developed type 2 diabetes. Lower serum creatinine was associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. The multiple-adjusted odds ratio for those who had serum creatinine levels between 0.40 and 0.60 mg/dl was 1.91 (95% CI 1.44-2.54) compared with those who had levels between 0.71 and 0.80 mg/dl. CONCLUSIONS -- Lower serum creatinine increased the risk of type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on the relationship between walking to work and the development of type 2 diabetes in Japanese men. It mentions that studies revealed that physical activity is effective in preventing diabetes. Men were examined based on their leisure-time physical activity, smoking habits and alcohol intake. The result of the study provided evidence that duration of the walk going to work has an independent effect on the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Prediabetes is a key risk for type 2 diabetes and its remission to normal glucose regulation has been shown to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes. However, which factors play roles in remission is not fully understood. We prospectively examined the relationships between liver enzymes at baseline and future remission from impaired fasting glucose (IFG) to normal fasting glucose (NFG). We included 3334 middle-aged Japanese men with IFG and not taking diabetic medications at baseline. They were followed for up to 11 years. IFG was defined as fasting plasma glucose level 100-125 mg/dL and HbA1c <6.5%. Remission to NFG was defined as fasting plasma glucose level <100 mg/dL detected two times consecutively at the annual checkup. Those who had developed diabetes before they achieved remission to NFG were not counted as remission. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for achieving remission to NFG. Alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) were divided into the following quartiles: 5-19, 20-26, 27-37, and ≥38 IU/L for ALT; 11-19, 20-23, 24-29, and ≥30 IU/L for AST. A total of 1224 subjects remitted to NFG during 19780 person-years. Incidence rates per 1000 person-years for quartiles 1, 2, 3, and 4 of ALT/AST were 81/65, 62/67, 56/60, and 49/56, respectively. In a multiple-adjusted model that included age, fasting plasma glucose, body mass index, smoking status, regular physical exercise, alcohol consumption, and family history of diabetes, HRs of future remission to NFG for quartiles 2, 3, and 4 of ALT were 0.84 (95% CI, 0.72-0.99), 0.84 (0.72-0.99), and 0.82 (0.69-0.97), respectively, compared to quartile 1. In the same model except AST was substituted for ALT, HRs of those for quartiles 2, 3, and 4 of AST were 1.04 (0.89-1.22), 1.02 (0.87-1.20), and 1.02 (0.87-1.21), respectively, compared to quartile 1. In conclusion, elevated ALT was inversely associated with future remission from IFG to NFG, but AST was not. Disclosure: I. Shibata: None. K.K. Sato: None. M. Shibata: None. H. Koh: None. S. Uehara: None. K. Oue: None. H. Kambe: None. M. Morimoto: None. T. Hayashi: None. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decline in kidney function is a major concern for patients with type 2 diabetes. The importance of serum uric acid level as the risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains unconfirmed. We therefore evaluated the relationship between baseline serum uric acid level and the risk of incident CKD among men with untreated type 2 diabetes at baseline examination in a 10-11 years prospective cohort study. We included 717 middle-aged Japanese subjects with fasting plasma glucose level ≥126 mg/dL or HbA1c ≥6.5% at baseline who were not taking hypoglycemic medications nor insulin, who had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2, who did not have proteinuria nor malignant tumors, and who were not taking anti-hypertensive medications nor urate-lowering medications at baseline. CKD was defined as eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m2. Cox proportional hazards models were used in the multivariate analysis. During the 5961 person-years follow-up period, 87 subjects developed CKD. Higher serum uric acid level was associated with an increased risk of CKD after adjustment for age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, HbA1c, smoking habits (nonsmokers, past smokers, and current smokers), regular leisure-time physical activity (yes/no), daily alcohol consumption (g ethanol/day), and eGFR at baseline. Multiple-adjusted hazard ratios of CKD for quintile 4 (6.2-6.9 mg/dL) and quintile 5 (≥7.0 mg/dL) of serum uric acid levels were 1.30 (95% CI, 0.73-2.30) and 1.80 (95% CI, 1.04-3.11), respectively, compared with quintile 1 to 3 (0.7-6.1 mg/dL). Moreover, when we modeled serum uric acid level as a continuous variable, serum uric acid level per 1.0 mg/dL increase was significantly associated with a 25% increased risk of incident CKD. In conclusion, higher serum uric acid level is independently and significantly associated with an increased risk of CKD in patients with untreated type 2 diabetes. Disclosure: Y. Okada: None. K.K. Sato: None. M. Shibata: None. S. Uehara: None. H. Koh: None. K. Oue: None. H. Kambe: None. M. Morimoto: None. T. Hayashi: None. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Not known is whether smoking habit is associated with the risk of developing the metabolic syndrome among men. Study subjects consisted of 7355 Japanese men aged 40 to 55 years without the metabolic syndrome. The metabolic syndrome was defined using modified Adult Treatment Panel III criteria using body mass index in place of waist circumference. Data on smoking habit was obtained from questionnaires. During the 4-year follow-up period, we confirmed 806 cases of the metabolic syndrome. After adjustment for age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, alcohol daily consumption, and physical activity, the odds ratio (OR) of the metabolic syndrome among current smokers was 1.30 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-1.61) in comparison to never smokers. Men who smoked more than 30 cigarettes a day had a higher risk compared with never smokers (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.16-2.24) (Table 1). To evaluate the chronic effect of cigarettes smoking for the risk of the incidence of the metabolic syndrome, we assessed the relationship between pack-years and the risk of the metabolic syndrome. The value of pack-years is also associated with the increased risk of the metabolic syndrome in a dose-dependent manner. The multiple-adjusted OR for those whose pack-years value is more than 40 is 1.49 (95% CI 1.12-1.98). Furthermore, we assessed the association between cigarettes smoking and the incidence of the components of the metabolic syndrome. Cigarette smoking was associated with the risk of the incidence of hyperglycemia, high triglycerides, and low HDL cholesterol but not high blood pressure or high body mass index. In conclusion, cigarette smoking habit is an independent risk factor for the development of the metabolic syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]