Hypophosphataemia in the metabolic syndrome.: Gender differences in body weight and blood glucose

Objective: We examined gender differences in the clustering of risk factors, especially regarding the possible role of serum phosphate (S-P) in obese patients who participated in a 4 week education programme to reduce their excess risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Results: Significantly higher body mass index (BMI) and concentrations of S-P and high density lipids (S-HDL) in serum were found in women (n = 1272) than in men (n = 993). In women, BMI was inversely correlated with S-P at the time of admission. Also in women (but not in men), changes in BMI and S-P over 1 or 11/2 y were inversely correlated. In men (but not in women), S-P level was inversely correlated with age, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and blood glucose at the time of admission. In women, S-P increased and DBP decreased, in addition to weight decrease over both 6 months and 11/2 y or 1y. In women (but not in men), significantly higher age, S-P, S-chol, S-TG, S-urate, SEP and DBP values were found with the highest vs the lowest decile of S-Ca. Conclusion: We conclude that higher S-P and S-Ca levels may contribute to the difference in metabolic disturbances occurring in obesity, seen in women vs men.