Importance of cystatin C and uric acid levels in the association of cardiometabolic risk factors in Japanese junior high school students

Abstract Background Serum cystatin C (CysC), a novel marker of renal function, is associated with the components of metabolic syndrome in adults. Little is known about the utility of CysC and its association with cardiometabolic risks in young subjects. Methods and results In a cohort of 454 Japanese junior high school students, the distribution of serum CysC levels and associated variables were analyzed. CysC levels were significantly higher in boys than in girls (0.92 ± 0.10 mg/L vs. 0.77 ± 0.08 mg/L, p < 0.001). CysC was significantly correlated with serum creatinine ( r = 0.473, p < 0.001), and serum uric acid (SUA) ( r = 0.546, p < 0.001). Multivariable regression analysis revealed significant associations between CysC and SUA in all subjects ( β = 0.241, p < 0.001), and in boys and girls separately ( β = 0.264 and 0.240, respectively, both p < 0.001). Importantly, subjects with elevation of both serum CysC and SUA levels had the highest ratio of triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Conclusions CysC had significant associations with both creatinine and SUA in Japanese junior high school students. The concomitant elevation of serum CysC and SUA levels was associated with subclinical lipid metabolism dysregulation, and suggested the presence of cardiometabolic risk accumulation.