(1) BMI ≥25 kg/m2; (2) HDL-C b40 mg/dL in men, b50 mg/dL in women; (3) TG ≥150 mg/dL or treatment for hyperlipidemia; (4) fasting glucose ≥110 mg/dL; (5) systolic blood pressure ≥130 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥85 mmHg or taking antihypertensive medication. Subjects with three or more of the above abnormalities at baseline were considered as having metabolic syndrome