Low serum adiponectin levels in childhood and adolescence predict increased intima-media thickness in adulthood. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.

Introduction: Low adiponectin levels may predict the development of atherosclerosis. We examined the association of childhood adiponectin with preclinical carotid atherosclerosis that is defined as plaque and/or high (≥95th percentile) intima-media thickness (IMT) at the carotid bifurcation in adulthood.

Methods: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study is a cohort study on cardiovascular risk factors.

Plasminogen activator inhitor-1 associates with cardiovascular risk factors in healthy young adults in the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.

Aims: Hypofibrinolysis displayed by elevated serum plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) level has been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its risk factors such as obesity and insulin resistance. However, no studies have examined associations between PAI-1 and CVD risk factors in healthy subjects. We examined associations between serum PAI-1, ultrasound markers of atherosclerosis and CVD risk factors and whether PAI-1 improves prediction of atherosclerosis over known risk factors in a cohort of asymptomatic adults.

Associations between serum uric acid and markers of subclinical atherosclerosis in young adults. The cardiovascular risk in Young Finns study.

Background And Methods: Serum uric acid (SUA) is a suggested biomarker for established coronary artery disease, but the role of SUA in early phases of atherosclerosis is controversial. The relations of SUA with vascular markers of subclinical atherosclerosis, including carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT), carotid plaque, carotid distensibility (Cdist) and brachial flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) were examined in 1985 young adults aged 30-45 years. In addition to ordinary regression, we used Mendelian randomization techniques to infer causal associations.

Cross-sectional associations between physical activity and selected coronary heart disease risk factors in young adults. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.

Objective: Physical activity (PA) may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) by inducing beneficial changes in several risk factors. We studied the associations between PA and a range of risk markers of CHD in young adults.

Methods And Results: We measured serum lipoproteins, oxidized LDL, adipokines, inflammatory markers, metabolic markers, and arginine metabolites in 2,268 individuals (age 24-39 y).

A longitudinal analysis on associations of adiponectin levels with metabolic syndrome and carotid artery intima-media thickness. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.

Objective: Adipose-tissue derived adiponectin has gained a lot of interest as a marker of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular risk. The objective of this study was to assess whether adiponectin levels in young adults predict the incidence of MetS after 6-year follow-up. To gain insight on the interrelations between MetS, adiponectin and cardiovascular risk, we also examined the associations of adiponectin and carotid atherosclerosis according to MetS status.

Association of liver enzymes with metabolic syndrome and carotid atherosclerosis in young adults. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.

Objective: We examined whether metabolic syndrome (MetS) predicts increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) levels in young adults, whether spontaneous recovery from MetS has a favorable effect on liver enzyme activities, and whether these enzymes contribute to the atherogenicity of MetS (assessed by carotid intima-media thickness (IMT)).

Methods: The study included 1,553 subjects (base-line age 31.5 ± 5.

Adiponectin is related with carotid artery intima-media thickness and brachial flow-mediated dilatation in young adults--the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.

Aims: Adiponectin may be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We investigated the relation of adiponectin on early functional and structural markers of subclinical atherosclerosis in a large population-based cohort of young men and women.

Methods And Results: We measured serum adiponectin using radioimmunoassay in 2,147 young adults (ages 24-39 years) participating in the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.

Non-alcoholic and alcoholic fatty liver disease - two diseases of affluence associated with the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes: the FIN-D2D survey.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is known to be associated with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and abnormal glucose tolerance. Whether alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD) is associated with similar metabolic abnormalities has not been examined in a population-based study. We aimed at assessing the prevalences of NAFLD and AFLD, and to examine to what extent these conditions are associated with MetS and abnormal glucose tolerance.

High prevalence of obesity, central obesity and abnormal glucose tolerance in the middle-aged Finnish population.

Background: There is a worldwide increase in the prevalence of obesity and disturbances in glucose metabolism. The aim of this study was to assess the current prevalence of obesity, central obesity and abnormal glucose tolerance in Finnish population, and to investigate the associations between body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and abnormal glucose tolerance.

Methods: A cross-sectional population-based survey was conducted in Finland during October 2004 and January 2005.

The association between obesity and the prevalence of low back pain in young adults: the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.

Both low back pain (LBP) and obesity are common public health problems, yet their relation remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between weight-related factors and the prevalence of LBP in young adults in Finland. Participants in the ongoing Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study aged 24-39 years were included (N = 2,575).

Cross-sectional evaluation of the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score: a tool to identify undetected type 2 diabetes, abnormal glucose tolerance and metabolic syndrome.

The aim of this study was to assess the performance of the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score as a screening tool for undetected type 2 diabetes (T2D), abnormal glucose tolerance (AGT) and metabolic syndrome in the general population. In a cross-sectional, population-based survey, a total of 4,622 subjects aged 45-74 years were invited to a health examination that included an oral glucose tolerance test. Full data with risk score estimate and glucose tolerance status were available for 2,966 subjects without a prior history of diabetes.