Higher serum soluble receptor for advanced glycation end product levels and lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome among Japanese adult men: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Although several studies showed that decreased soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) is associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS), inflammation level has not been considered, even though ligand-RAGE interaction induces inflammation. The objective of the study was to determine the association between sRAGE and MetS among Japanese adult in a cross-sectional survey, taking the level of low grade inflammation into consideration.

Methods: Serum soluble RAGE (sRAGE) were measured in 712 men and 176 women aged 30-83 years with serum C-reactive protein (hsCRP) concentration below 3 mg/L. MetS was defined using the criteria of the American Heart Association Scientific Statements of 2009.

Results: After multivariable adjustment, among men, higher sRAGE levels were associated with lower odds of MetS as well as central obesity and elevated blood pressure. Comparing the extreme tertiles of sRAGE, odds ratios (95% confidence interval) were 0.58 (0.36-0.95; P for trend = 0.001) for MetS; 0.41 (0.25-0.52; P for trend < 0.001) for central obesity; and 0.45 (0.29-0.70; P for trend < 0.001) for elevated blood pressure. Moreover, participants were categorized according to their median hsCRP and sRAGE values. Men in the higher hsCRP/higher sRAGE category had a 40% lower odds ratio for MetS than those in the higher hsCRP/lower sRAGE category (P = 0.031). Among women, there was no association between sRAGE levels and the prevalence of MetS.

Conclusions: Higher circulating RAGE concentrations were associated with lower prevalence of MetS and its components among Japanese men.