Association of gamma-glutamyl transferase and the metabolic syndrome in obese women

To evaluate the correlation of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity to the presence and number of abnormalities of the metabolic syndrome (MS). We have studied 353 women consecutively admitted into the obesity outpatient unit, aged 39.0 +/- 11.4 years and body mass index 41.3 +/- 7.3 kg/m2. All patients were asymptomatic, had no history of alcohol abuse or liver disease. National Cholesterol Education Program--Adult Treatment Panel III criteria for diagnosing MS were applied. The frequency of the MS was 50.7% in the patients. The frequency of elevated GGT activity was higher in patients with MS than without it (32% versus 20%, p = 0.05). The average GGT concentration in patients with the MS was significantly higher than in non SM patients (52.8 +/- 42.3 U/L; Md: 40.0 versus 40.1 +/- 28.8 U/L; Md: 33.0, p = 0.0001). It was also higher in patients with each one abnormality of the MS, when compared to those without it. In patients with association of three abnormalities of the MS, the mean GGT activity was 51.0 +/- 39.2 U/L (Md: 36.0); in those with four, 50.8 +/- 50.4 U/L (Md: 40.5); and five, 64.8 +/- 32.3 U/L (Md: 61.0). There were positive correlations between GGT and glucose, triglycerides or blood pressure (systolic and diastolic). GGT activity was associated to the presence and the number of abnormalities of the MS, as well as to each one abnormality of the MS in obese women.