Associations of Muscle Strength and Fitness with Metabolic Syndrome in Men

PURPOSE: To examine the associations for muscular strength and cardiorespiratory fitness with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among men. METHODS: Participants were 8570 men (20-75 yr) for whom an age-specific muscular strength score was computed by combining the body weight adjusted one-repetition maximum measures for the leg press and the bench press. Cardiorespiratory fitness was quantified by age-specific maximal treadmill exercise test time. RESULTS: Separate age and smoking adjusted logistic regression models revealed a graded inverse association for metabolic syndrome prevalence with muscular strength (beta = -0.37, P or= 30) men, respectively, being strong and fit was associated with lower odds (73%, 69%, and 62% respectively, P < 0.0001) of having prevalent metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Muscular strength and cardiorespiratory fitness have independent and joint inverse associations with metabolic syndrome prevalence.