Evaluation of nitric oxide metabolites in a group of subjects with metabolic syndrome.

AIM: To evaluate the concentration of metabolites (NO(2)(-), NO(3)(-)) of nitric oxide (NO) in metabolic syndrome (MS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 106 subjects (45 women and 61 men) with MS of which 43 (14 women and 27 men) with diabetes mellitus and 63 (31 women and 32 men) without diabetes mellitus, and 54 subjects (19 women and 35 men) as control group. The nitric oxide metabolites (nitrite+nitrate=NOx) were evaluated employing the Griess reagent. RESULTS: In the whole group of MS subjects was evident, in comparison with control group, a significant increase in NOx. The same finding was also present between control group and diabetic subjects with MS and between control group and nondiabetic subjects with MS. No difference was observed between the two subgroups (diabetic and nondiabetic subjects with MS) about NOx. Contrasting information were obtained examining the linear regression among NOx, age, anthropometric profile, blood pressure values and glycometabolic pattern of subjects with MS. CONCLUSIONS: In MS subjects we found a significant increase in NOx not influenced by diabetes mellitus. The NOx is a parameter that must be considered in MS keeping in mind that its behavior is related to chronic inflammation that accompanies this clinical condition.