OBJECTIVE

We studied the association of maximum oxygen uptake (Vo2max) with the development and resolution of metabolic syndrome (MetS) for 2 years in older individuals.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Subjects were a population sample of 1,226 men and women aged 57–78 years. We assessed Vo2max directly by respiratory gas analysis during maximum exercise testing and used dichotomous and continuous variables for MetS.

RESULTS

One SD increase in baseline Vo2max associated with 44% (95% CI 24–58) decreased risk of developing MetS. Individuals in the highest third of baseline Vo2max were 68% (37–84) less likely to develop MetS than those in the lowest third. One SD increase in Vo2max increased the likelihood to resolve MetS 1.8 (1.2–2.8) times. Individuals in the highest Vo2max third were 3.9 (1.5–9.9) times more likely to resolve MetS than those in the lowest third.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness protect against MetS and may resolve it in older individuals.

Cross-sectional population studies have shown an inverse association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in middle-aged and older men and women (1,2). There are few prospective population studies on the association between CRF and the development of MetS (3,,6) and no such studies on the resolution of MetS. None of these studies have been conducted in older men and women. Evidence of the association between changes in CRF and metabolic risk rely on relatively small prospective studies among middle-aged or high-risk individuals (6,7). We therefore studied the association of maximum oxygen uptake (Vo2max) with the development and resolution of MetS and changes in Vo2max and metabolic risk in a population sample of older men and women.

We used baseline and 2-year follow-up data of an ongoing randomized controlled trial, the Dose Responses to Exercise Training (DR's EXTRA) study, which includes five intervention groups and one control group (2). After excluding individuals with diabetes or incomplete data, analyses consisted of 589 men and 637 women aged 57–78 years.

CRF was assessed by a respiratory gas analysis during a maximum symptom–limited exercise test on a cycle ergometer (2). Physical activity was assessed by a questionnaire, and dietary intake was assessed by a 4-day food record including 3 weekdays and 1 weekend day. MetS was defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) criteria (8), and a metabolic risk score (z-MetS) was constructed (5,7). Other assessments have previously been explained (2).

The associations of baseline Vo2max with the development and resolution of MetS during 2 years were analyzed using logistic regression analysis (n = 1,137) and the 2-year associations of Vo2max with z-MetS and features of MetS by linear mixed models (n = 1,226). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS.

At baseline, 22% of men and women had MetS. Of 427 men and 466 women without MetS at baseline, 44 and 49, respectively, developed it during 2 years. Of 117 men and 127 women with MetS at baseline, 47 and 38, respectively, resolved it during 2 years.

Among individuals without MetS at baseline, 1-SD higher baseline Vo2max (men 6.1, women 4.8 ml · kg−1 · min−1) was associated with a 44% (95% CI 24–58) decreased risk of developing MetS during 2 years in all individuals; a 56% (27–73) decreased risk in men; and a 35% (4–56) decreased risk in women adjusted for age, smoking, alcohol consumption, cardiovascular diseases, NCEP metabolic risk sum, and study groups at baseline. Individuals in the highest sex-specific third of baseline Vo2max were 68% less likely to develop MetS than those in the lowest third (Table 1). Further adjustments for physical activity and dietary intakes (saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, fiber, and carbohydrates) at baseline and study groups did not affect the association, but adjustment for body weight at baseline and changes in body weight during 2 years diminished it.

Table 1

Odds ratios (95% CI) for the development and resolution of the metabolic syndrome during 2 years in the sex-specific thirds of maximum oxygen uptake at baseline

Thirds of maximum oxygen uptake*Odds for incident metabolic syndrome
Model 1Model 2Model 3
n  893  
Low (reference) 
Middle 0.76 (0.43–1.33) 0.75 (0.42–1.34) 0.96 (0.51–1.78) 
High 0.32 (0.16–0.64) 0.32 (0.16–0.63) 0.47 (0.22–1.01) 
P for trend 0.001 0.001 0.055 
Thirds of maximum oxygen uptake*Odds for incident metabolic syndrome
Model 1Model 2Model 3
n  893  
Low (reference) 
Middle 0.76 (0.43–1.33) 0.75 (0.42–1.34) 0.96 (0.51–1.78) 
High 0.32 (0.16–0.64) 0.32 (0.16–0.63) 0.47 (0.22–1.01) 
P for trend 0.001 0.001 0.055 
Odds for resolved metabolic syndrome
n  244  
Low (reference) 
Middle 1.23 (0.64–2.38) 1.37 (0.69–2.74) 1.40 (0.66–2.96) 
High 3.89 (1.54–9.85) 4.66 (1.78–12.19) 5.54 (1.93–15.94) 
P for trend 0.010 0.004 0.004 
Odds for resolved metabolic syndrome
n  244  
Low (reference) 
Middle 1.23 (0.64–2.38) 1.37 (0.69–2.74) 1.40 (0.66–2.96) 
High 3.89 (1.54–9.85) 4.66 (1.78–12.19) 5.54 (1.93–15.94) 
P for trend 0.010 0.004 0.004 

Data are from logistic regression analysis. Model 1: adjusted for baseline age, smoking, alcohol consumption, cardiovascular disease, and NCEP metabolic risk sum. Model 2: adjusted for variables in model 1, the study groups, physical activity, and intake of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, fiber, and carbohydrates. Model 3: adjusted for variables in models 1 and 2, body weight at baseline, and change in body weight during 2 years.

*In men: low <23.3, middle 23.3–29.1, and high >29.1 ml · kg−1 · min−1. In women: low <18.4, middle 18.4–22.8, and high >22.8 ml · kg−1 · min−1.

Among individuals with MetS at baseline, 1-SD higher Vo2max was associated with a 1.8 (1.21–2.82) times higher likelihood to resolve MetS during 2 years in all individuals; a 2.1 (1.12–3.96) times higher likelihood in men; and a 1.9 (0.98–3.70) times higher likelihood in women after baseline adjustments. Individuals in the highest third of Vo2max were 3.9 times more likely to resolve MetS than those in the lowest third (Table 1). Further adjustments slightly strengthened the association.

One ml · kg−1 · min−1 increase in Vo2max was associated with a 0.19 unit (95% CI −0.17 to −0.21) reduction in z-MetS adjusted for age, sex, and study groups. Further adjustment for smoking, alcohol consumption, use of lipid-lowering and antihypertensive medication, cardiovascular diseases, physical activity, and dietary intakes during 2 years did not materially change the association. One ml · kg−1 · min−1 increase in Vo2max was also associated with a reduction in waist circumference (β = −0.47, P < 0.001), fasting glucose (β = −0.02, P < 0.001), triglycerides (β = −0.03, P < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (β = −0.29, P = 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (β = −0.20, P < 0.001), and an increase in HDL cholesterol (β = 0.02, P < 0.001) after adjustments for age, sex, and study groups.

The present study suggests that higher levels of CRF protect against the development of MetS and may also resolve it over 2 years among older men and women. The most fit individuals were about 70% less likely to develop MetS and four times more likely to resolve it than the least fit individuals. Increased CRF improved the components of MetS and the overall metabolic risk profile during 2 years.

We have previously reported that older men and women in the lowest third of Vo2max had 10 times higher risk of MetS than the most fit individuals (2) and that higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness protected against the development of MetS during 4 years in middle-aged men (3). Also, CRF in young adulthood was inversely associated with the risk of developing MetS, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension in middle-age (4). In contrast, no independent association between CRF and the development of MetS was found in middle-aged individuals after controlling for physical activity (5,6). In the present study, the association between CRF and MetS remained after adjustment for physical activity and dietary intakes.

Physical activity is the principal determinant of CRF, although genetic variation, age, and body composition also contribute (9). Middle-aged men who have higher levels of CRF and who are able to maintain good CRF are physically more active and have higher lean body mass and lower body fat mass than those who have worse CRF. These individuals have improved carbohydrate and fat metabolism that can protect against or even resolve MetS (10).

The study population included a large number of older men and women recruited from the national population register. We assessed Vo2max directly by respiratory gas analysis during a maximum exercise test, which is the most accurate measure of CRF. While most other studies have only focused on the incidence of MetS, we studied the incidence and resolution of MetS. We also used a continuous metabolic risk score as an outcome variable to increase statistical power to detect true associations.

In conclusion, the present study emphasizes CRF as a predictor of cardiometabolic health in older individuals with and without MetS.

The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked “advertisement” in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

Clinical trial registry no. ISRCTN 45977199, ISRCTN.org.

This study was supported by grants from the Ministry of Education in Finland, Academy of Finland, European Commission FP6 Integrated Project EXGENESIS (LSHM-CT-2004-00527), the City of Kuopio, Finnish Diabetes Association, Finnish Heart Association, Kuopio University Hospital, and Päivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation.

No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

M.H., T.A.L., and R.R. contributed to the study conception and design. M.H., T.A.L., V.K., and R.R. researched the data. M.H. wrote the manuscript. M.H., T.A.L., K.S., and P.K. reviewed and edited the manuscript. T.A.L., L.H., K.S., P.K., H.L., R.K., H.H., and R.R. contributed to the discussion. M.H., L.H., K.S., P.K., H.L., R.K., and H.H. contributed to the data collection. V.K. contributed as a statistical consultant. R.R. is a guarantor of the study.

1.
Lakka
TA
,
Laaksonen
DE
,
Lakka
HM
,
Männikkö
N
,
Niskanen
LK
,
Rauramaa
R
,
Salonen
JT
:
Sedentary lifestyle, poor cardiorespiratory fitness, and the metabolic syndrome
.
Med Sci Sports Exerc
2003
; 
35
:
1279
1286
2.
Hassinen
M
,
Lakka
TA
,
Savonen
K
,
Litmanen
H
,
Kiviaho
L
,
Laaksonen
DE
,
Komulainen
P
,
Rauramaa
R
:
Cardiorespiratory fitness as a feature of the metabolic syndrome in older men and women: the Dose-Responses to Exercise Training study (DR's EXTRA)
.
Diabetes Care
2008
; 
31
:
1242
1247
3.
Laaksonen
DE
,
Lakka
HM
,
Salonen
JT
,
Niskanen
LK
,
Rauramaa
R
,
Lakka
TA
:
Low levels of leisure-time physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness predict development of the metabolic syndrome
.
Diabetes Care
2002
; 
25
:
1612
1618
4.
Carnethon
MR
,
Gidding
SS
,
Nehgme
R
,
Sidney
S
,
Jacobs
DR
 Jr
,
Liu
K
:
Cardiorespiratory fitness in young adulthood and the development of cardiovascular disease risk factors
.
JAMA
2003
; 
290
:
3092
3100
5.
Ekelund
U
,
Brage
S
,
Franks
PW
,
Hennings
S
,
Emms
S
,
Wareham
NJ
:
Physical activity energy expenditure predicts progression toward the metabolic syndrome independently of aerobic fitness in middle-aged healthy Caucasians: the Medical Research Council Ely Study
.
Diabetes Care
2005
; 
28
:
1195
1200
6.
Ekelund
U
,
Franks
PW
,
Sharp
S
,
Brage
S
,
Wareham
NJ
:
Increase in physical activity energy expenditure is associated with reduced metabolic risk independent of change in fatness and fitness
.
Diabetes Care
2007
; 
30
:
2101
2106
7.
Simmons
RK
,
Griffin
SJ
,
Steele
R
,
Wareham
NJ
,
Ekelund
U
ProActive Research Team
.
Increasing overall physical activity and aerobic fitness is associated with improvements in metabolic risk: cohort analysis of the ProActive trial
.
Diabetologia
.
2008
; 
51
:
787
794
8.
Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults
.
Executive summary of the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III)
.
JAMA
.
2001
; 
285
:
2486
2497
9.
Bouchard
C
,
Rankinen
T
:
Individual differences in response to regular physical activity
.
Med Sci Sports Exerc
.
2001
; 
33
:
S446
S451
10.
Laukkanen
JA
,
Laaksonen
D
,
Lakka
TA
,
Savonen
K
,
Rauramaa
R
,
Mäkikallio
T
,
Kurl
S
:
Determinants of cardiorespiratory fitness in men aged 42 to 60 years with and without cardiovascular disease
.
Am J Cardiol
2009
; 
103
:
1598
1604
Readers may use this article as long as the work is properly cited, the use is educational and not for profit, and the work is not altered. See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/ for details.