BACKGROUND: Biological aging is a physiological process that can be altered by various factors. The presence of a chronic metabolic disease can accelerate aging and increase the risk of further chronic diseases. The aim of the study was to determine whether the presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) affects levels of markers that are associated with, among other things, aging. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 169 subjects (58 with MetS, and 111 without metabolic syndrome, i.e., non-MetS) participated in the study. Levels of telomerase, GDF11/15, sirtuin 1, follistatin, NLRP3, AGEs, klotho, DNA/RNA damage, NAD+, vitamin D, and blood lipids were assessed from blood samples using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. RESULTS: Telomerase (p < 0.01), DNA/RNA damage (p < 0.006) and GDF15 (p < 0.02) were higher in MetS group compared to non-MetS group. Only vitamin D levels were higher in the non-MetS group (p < 0.0002). Differences between MetS and non-MetS persons were also detected in groups divided according to age: in under 35-year-olds and those aged 35-50 years. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that people with MetS compared to those without MetS have higher levels of some of the measured markers of biological aging. Thus, the presence of MetS may accelerate biological aging, which may be associated with an increased risk of chronic comorbidities that accompany MetS (cardiovascular, inflammatory, autoimmune, neurodegenerative, metabolic, or cancer diseases) and risk of premature death from all causes.

Institute of Clinical Biochemistry and Diagnostics University Hospital Hradec Kralove and Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove Charles University 500 03 Hradec Kralove Czech Republic

Institute of Clinical Immunology and Allergology University Hospital Hradec Kralove and Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove Charles University 500 03 Hradec Kralove Czech Republic

Institute of Medical Biophysics Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove Charles University 500 03 Hradec Kralove Czech Republic

Institute of Preventive Medicine Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove Charles University 500 03 Hradec Kralove Czech Republic

Transfusion Department University Hospital Hradec Kralove 500 03 Hradec Kralove Czech Republic

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