28-05-2025
Consider Sex of Both Parent and Child in MetS Screening
Parental metabolic syndrome (MetS) had a notable impact on the metabolic health of offspring; paternal MetS showed stronger associations with several metabolic markers in boys, whereas maternal MetS was linked to elevated triglyceride levels in both sexes but affected other markers, primarily in boys.
METHODOLOGY:
Multiple studies have examined the influence of parental MetS on children; however, the differential effects of maternal and paternal MetS on female vs male offspring remain unclear.
Researchers conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional study using a Korean database from 2007 to 2020 to investigate the influence of parental MetS on various metabolic aspects in offspring, using a sex-specific approach.
They included 5245 adolescents aged 10-18 years, including 2785 boys and 2460 girls; anthropometric and clinical data were required to be available for the adolescents and their parents.
MetS in adolescents was defined according to the modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria.
The investigators used multiple logistic regression analysis to evaluate the effects of parental MetS status on the presence of MetS and cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescent offspring.
TAKEAWAY:
Boys with paternal MetS had higher levels of serum glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) than those without paternal MetS ( P < .01 for all); clinically meaningful effect sizes were observed only for triglycerides (Cohen's d = 0.231) and HDL-C (Cohen's d = −0.208).
< .01 for all); clinically meaningful effect sizes were observed only for triglycerides (Cohen's = 0.231) and HDL-C (Cohen's = −0.208). Adolescents with maternal MetS showed higher levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL-C and lower levels of HDL-C than those without maternal MetS, in both sexes. In boys, the differences were significant and clinically meaningful for systolic blood pressure (Cohen's d = 0.213), triglycerides (Cohen's d = 0.332), and HDL-C (Cohen's d = −0.284).
= 0.213), triglycerides (Cohen's = 0.332), and HDL-C (Cohen's = −0.284). Girls with maternal MetS showed a clinically significant increase only in triglyceride levels (Cohen's d = 0.286).
= 0.286). The odds of MetS and many of its components were substantially elevated in boys in the presence of paternal or maternal MetS; girls showed limited effects, with maternal MetS linked only to elevated triglycerides and paternal MetS to elevated blood pressure.
IN PRACTICE:
'These results suggest that the inheritance mechanism of MetS is highly complex and that both parental and offspring sex should be considered in future screening and prevention of MetS,' the authors concluded.
SOURCE:
This study was led by Jun-Hong Park, Ajou University School of Medicine in Suwon-si, Republic of Korea. It was published online on May 21, 2025, in Scientific Reports .
LIMITATIONS:
This study had a cross-sectional design and lacked detailed data on hormonal profiles and dietary factors. The dataset lacked information on prenatal exposures known to affect the cardiometabolic health of offspring, such as gestational age, weight gain, diabetes status, and birth weight.
DISCLOSURES:
This study received no specific funding. The authors declared having no conflicts of interest.
