Comparison of ventilatory threshold and exercise habits between Japanese men with and without metabolic syndrome

Objective: We compared the levels of ventilatory threshold (VT) and exercise habits in subjects with metabolic syndrome with those in age, sex-matched subjects without metabolic syndrome. Methods: We used data of 155 Japanese men (47.1 ± 9.2 years) with metabolic syndrome; the diagnosis was given by the definition and the diagnostic standard for metabolic syndrome in Japan. The influence of metabolic syndrome on oxygen uptake, work rate and heart rate at VT, and exercise habits were evaluated. Results: Oxygen uptake and work rate at VT in subjects with metabolic syndrome were significantly lower than those in subjects without metabolic syndrome even after adjusting for body mass index (BMI). The number of subjects with exercise habits was significantly lower in metabolic syndrome. The subjects with exercise habits were significantly older than that in subjects without exercise habits. Furthermore, oxygen uptake and work rate at VT were significantly higher in subjects with exercise habits than those in subjects without exercise habits. Conclusion: Lower level of VT was characteristic in subjects with metabolic syndrome. Promotion of exercise habits is necessary for preventing and improving metabolic syndrome in Japanese men.