Endocrine Abstracts

Background: The term metabolic syndrome refers to a cluster of associated symptoms composed of impaired fasting glucose, abdominal obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia. Metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and diabetes-associated morbidity and mortality. Further, there is evidence that metabolic syndrome is an effective and simple clinical tool for identifying high-risk subjects predisposed to cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus type2. Oxytocin regulates food intake, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. They respond to an increase in glucose and insulin (which occurs in metabolic syndrome as a powerful example for hyperinsulinemia due to insulin resistance and consequently hyperglycaemia) with an increase in intracellular [Ca2+] and increased oxytocin release.

Aim of the work: To assess the relationship between serum oxytocin levels and presence of metabolic syndrome in patients over 55 years old.

Patient and Methods: Our study was conducted on 90 elderly subjects (aged 55 years old or more). They were divided into Group I, 60 patients fulfilling the criteria of metabolic syndrome, according to guidelines from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), group II, 30 healthy subjects as a control group. All participants were subjected to history taking, full clinical examination, anthropometric measurement and laboratory investigations including Fasting plasma glucose, 2 hours plasma glucose, HbA1c, serum cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-c, HDL-c, insulin resistance by HOMA, serum oxytocin.

Results: Serum oxytocin levels in patients with metabolic syndrome were significantly higher (Median=25 (21–56.5)) than in control group (Median=19.5 (16–23) with (Z=−2.700 and P=0.007). Its level was significantly positively correlated with Waist circumference (r=0.336, P=0.009), DM duration (r=0.604, P=0.000), and FPG (r=0.411, P=0.000). It was found that the level of oxytocin in men was higher (IQR=50(22–80) than in women (IQR=22(20–25) with (Z=−3.398 P=0.001).

Conclusion: Serum oxytocin is higher in elderly patients with metabolic syndrome with significant rise more observed in males than in females.

Keywords: Oxytocin, Elderly, Metabolic syndrome, Waist Circumference, Fasting plasma glucose.