Metabolic syndrome and its components with neuron-specific enolase: a cross-sectional study in large health check-up population in China

Abstract

Objective: This study was aimed at investigating the relationship between neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and components of metabolic syndrome (MS).

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Chinese health check-up population.

Participants: 40 684 health check-up people were enrolled in this study from year 2014 to 2016.

Main outcome measures: OR and coefficient for MS.

Results: The percentage of abnormal NSE and MS was 26.85% and 8.85%, respectively. There were significant differences in sex, body mass index, drinking habit, triglycerides (TGs), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), blood pressure and MS between low-NSE and high-NSE groups. In logistic regression analysis, elevated NSE was present in MS, higher body mass index, hypertriglyceridaemia, hypertension and low-HDL groups. Stepwise linear analysis showed a negative correlation between NSE and fasting blood glucose (FBG) (<6.0 mmol/L), and a positive correlation between NSE and TGs (<20 mmol/L), systolic blood pressure (75-200 mm Hg), HDL-C (0.75-2.50 mmol/L), diastolic blood pressure (<70 mm Hg) and FBG (6.00-20.00 mmol/L). Furthermore, MS was positively correlated with NSE within the range of 2.00-7.50 ng/mL, but had a negative correlation with NSE within the range of 7.50-23.00 ng/mL.

Conclusion: There are associations between NSE with MS and its components. The result suggests that NSE may be a potential predictor of MS. Further research could be conducted in discussing the potential mechanism involved.

Keywords: cross-sectional study; metabolic syndrome; neuron specific enolase.

Figure 1

Multiple logistic regression analysis of the factors that influence neuron-specific enolase (NSE). Adjusted for sex, age, drink and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), the dependent variable was NSE, while the independent variable was metabolic syndrome (MS). The longitudinal coordinate represents potential factors that influence NSE, while the horizontal coordinate are ORs of NSE.

Figure 2

Stepwise correlation analysis of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and metabolic syndrome (MS) components. The horizontal coordinate represents different components of MS; the longitudinal coordinate shows residual of NSE. Solid line: without adjustment; dotted line: adjustment for sex, age, drink and blood urea nitrogen. (A) Correlation of body mass index (BMI) with NSE. (B) Correlation of triglyceride (TG) with NSE. (C) Correlation of systolic blood pressure (SBP) with NSE. (D) Correlation of diastolic blood pressure (DBP) with NSE. (E) Correlation of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) with NSE. (F) Correlation of fasting blood glucose (FBG) with NSE.

Figure 3

Stepwise logistic regression analysis between neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and metabolic syndrome (MS). Adjusted for sex, age and smoke. The longitudinal coordinate represents quartile segments of NSE; the horizontal coordinate is OR of MS.

Figure 4

Relationship between neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and metabolic syndrome (MS) and their 95% CIs (shade scope). The horizontal coordinate represents NSE; the longitudinal coordinate is lnOR. Solid line: without adjustment; dotted line: adjustment for sex, age, drink and blood urea nitrogen.