Slightly raised blood pressure. A waistline that has crept up. Triglycerides a little high, blood sugar at the top of the range. On their own, none of these may seem worth much attention. Together, they form a recognised pattern called metabolic syndrome.
The NHS describes it as a group of health problems that put you at risk of type 2 diabetes and of conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels, and notes that it is very common. A metabolic syndrome blood test brings the blood-based parts of that pattern into one panel.
How metabolic syndrome is defined
In 2009, several international organisations agreed a joint definition. It lists five components, and having three or more of them qualifies as metabolic syndrome (Alberti et al., 2009):
- raised blood pressure;
- raised triglycerides;
- low HDL cholesterol;
- raised fasting glucose;
- a large waist measurement (central obesity).
Two of these, blood pressure and waist, are measured on the body. The other three come from a blood test. The NHS explains that, when checking for metabolic syndrome, a GP usually looks at family history, BMI and waist, blood pressure, and arranges blood tests for glucose and blood fats.
The NHS also links metabolic syndrome to insulin resistance, when the body does not respond properly to insulin, and to excess fat around the tummy. It notes that risk rises with age and with factors such as a high-saturated-fat diet, low activity, smoking and drinking a lot of alcohol.
What the Metabolic Syndrome Profile measures
According to the LML, which processes the test, the Metabolic Syndrome Profile in the BPR Clinic catalogue includes:
- A full cholesterol profile: total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, non-HDL, triglycerides, the total cholesterol to HDL ratio and HDL percentage.
- Glucose and HbA1c: blood sugar at the moment of collection and over recent months.
- Insulin: how much insulin the body is producing to keep glucose in range.
- High-sensitivity CRP: a marker of low-grade inflammation.
- Adiponectin: a hormone made by fat tissue, explained below.
The profile therefore covers the three blood components of the definition and adds markers that help explain the background: insulin, inflammation and adiponectin.
What adiponectin adds
Fat tissue is not just storage. It releases hormones, called adipokines, that talk to the rest of the body. A review in Molecules describes how adipokines are involved in the development of metabolic syndrome, and notes that adiponectin improves insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism (Kim et al., 2022).
According to the LML, adiponectin levels are inversely related to body fat percentage, so they tend to be higher in people with less body fat. Low levels have been associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease. A review in Circulation Research adds that low adiponectin in obesity is a biomarker that helps predict cardiovascular outcomes, while also pointing out that the relationship is more complex than "high is always good" (Zhao et al., 2021).
The Adiponectin test is also available on its own in the catalogue.
When the profile tends to make sense
As a general orientation, the profile is often considered from around 35, and earlier when there is:
- weight concentrated around the waist;
- raised blood pressure;
- a previous result with high triglycerides, low HDL or high glucose;
- a family history of type 2 diabetes or heart disease;
- a wish to follow progress after changes in diet, activity or weight.
How often
People who use this profile often repeat it once a year. Talk to a healthcare professional about the right interval and about whether a smaller panel would answer your question.
