Abstract:
Background: Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors that disproportionately
affects workers in high-stress industrial environments. Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), a marker
of oxidative stress and hepatic function, has emerged as a potential early indicator of metabolic risk.
This study evaluated the association between serum GGT and metabolic syndrome components among
petrochemical workers in Nigeria.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 312 petrochemical workers in Rivers State,
Nigeria. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, and fasting biochemical parameters were
assessed. Metabolic syndrome was defined using the International Diabetes Federation criteria. Serum
GGT was measured by enzymatic colorimetric assay. Logistic regression and receiver operating
characteristic analyses were performed to evaluate GGT as a metabolic risk marker.
Results: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 38.5% (95% CI: 33.1-44.1). Workers with
metabolic syndrome had significantly higher median GGT levels compared to those without (42.8 U/L
vs. 28.3 U/L; p < 0.001). GGT showed positive correlations with waist circumference (r = 0.42), fasting
glucose (r = 0.38), triglycerides (r = 0.35), and systolic blood pressure (r = 0.31). After multivariable
adjustment, each 10 U/L increase in GGT was associated with 1.47-fold increased odds of metabolic
syndrome (OR 1.47; 95% CI: 1.21-1.79). The area under the curve for GGT in predicting metabolic
syndrome was 0.78 (95% CI: 0.73-0.83), with optimal cutoff at 35.5 U/L (sensitivity 72%, specificity
71%).
Conclusions: Elevated serum GGT is independently associated with metabolic syndrome among
Nigerian petrochemical workers and may serve as a useful, cost-effective biomarker for early
metabolic risk screening in occupational health settings. |
