Results of this study indicate that leptin (15.92 ± 10.50 vs.9.43 ± 4.39 pg/ml, p < 0.001), L:A ratio (1.08 ± 1.06 vs.0.42 ± 0.38 pg/ml, p < 0.001), HOMA-IR, the lipid profile, and other metabolic risk factors (waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio(WHR), body mass index((BMI)), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level and fasting plasma insulin(FPI)) were significantly higher but HDL, HDL/LDL and adiponectin level (20.55 ± 10.76 vs.30.08 ± 13.08 pg/ml, p < 0.001)were significantly lower in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome than in women without the syndrome (p < 0.001).
In this article, we discuss factors (abdominal subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, lean mass, adiponectin, leptin, vitamin D, smoking and menopausal status) that have been investigated for their possible association with metabolic syndrome in African women, and discuss some recommendations for management of the syndrome.