Metabolic Syndrome Increases Demodex folliculorum Mite Infestation

Metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased risk for Demodex folliculorum mite infestation on the skin, a risk that is possibly caused by immunological disturbances associated with impaired glucose tolerance, study findings published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology suggests.

A total of 50 patients with metabolic syndrome (age, 40.8±6.3 years) and 50 healthy control participants without metabolic syndrome (age, 39.6±8.6 years) were included in this case-control study. The National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria were used to diagnose metabolic syndrome. Variables required for a metabolic syndrome classification included high waist circumference, increased triglycerides, decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, increased blood pressure, and increased fasting glucose.

A standardized skin surface biopsy identified the presence of D folliculorum, with infestation defined as the presence of ≥1 mite/cm².

Patients with metabolic syndrome had higher glucose levels compared with control participants (110±30.6 vs 90±74 mg/dL, respectively; P =.000). In participants with metabolic syndrome, there was a positive association between the number of mites and glucose concentration (r = 0.57, P =.00).

Each increase in the glucose level resulted in an increase in the concentration of D folliculorum of 0.190 (95% CI, 0.110-0.271; P =.00, t = 4.746, B = 0.190, r = 0.57, Durbin-Watson = 1.801). No association was found between the quantity of D folliculorum and body mass index, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, or systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Metabolic Syndrome Increases Demodex folliculorum Mite Infestation

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