Arterial stiffness preceding metabolic syndrome in 3,862 adolescents: a mediation and temporal causal longitudinal birth cohort study

Participants at risk of metabolic syndrome increased twofold during growth from late adolescence to young adulthood. The cumulative increase in arterial stiffness independently predicted the progressive risk of incident metabolic syndrome. Arterial stiffness temporally preceded metabolic syndrome. Increased fasting insulin and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol partly mediated the direct associations between arterial stiffness and metabolic syndrome. Age 17 yr may be an optimal arterial stiffness intervention timing for attenuating metabolic syndrome risks.