The metabolic syndrome is associated with increased risk of colorectal adenoma development: the Self-Defense Forces health study

The metabolic syndrome, a cluster of metabolic abnormalities linked to insulin resistance, has attracted much interest as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Hyperinsulinemia is also a postulated biological risk factor for colorectal carcinogenesis. We therefore here examined the relation between the metabolic syndrome and colorectal adenoma development. The study subjects were 756 cases of colorectal adenoma and 1751 controls with no polyps who underwent total colonoscopy during the period January 1995 to March 2002 at two Self Defense Forces (SDF) hospitals in Japan. The metabolic syndrome was defined with reference to abdominal obesity in combination with any two of the following conditions: elevated triglycerides (150 mg/dL); lowered HDL cholesterol (