Cohort Profile: The Metabolic syndrome and Cancer project (Me-Can)

Abstract

The metabolic syndrome includes presence of several metabolic risk factors, such as obesity, hypertension, insulin resistance/hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia.¹ These factors have, separately and jointly, been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.^2–4 To date, little is known about the metabolic syndrome and cancer risk.⁵ Recent prospective studies have either focused on the association between the metabolic syndrome and risk of specific cancers, mainly colorectal and prostate cancer, or between a single factor in the metabolic syndrome and cancer risk.⁵ It remains to be elucidated if factors within the metabolic syndrome act in synergy on the risk of cancer.