Metabolic Syndrome and Common Cancers in Nigeria: A Systematic Review between 1999 and 2022

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cancers pose significant public health challenges worldwide. However, the exact mechanisms linking MetS to carcinogenesis remain incompletely understood, particularly in the context of Nigeria where information on this association is limited. Consequently, the objective of this paper is to provide a systematic review of metabolic syndrome and common cancers in Nigeria spanning the period 1999 to 2022 by harvesting information and data across academic databases including Google Scholar and PubMed. The focus was on exploring the association of metabolic syndrome with breast, prostate, liver, cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancers specifically within Nigerian populations. Each constituent of metabolic syndrome was individually investigated alongside each highlighted cancer type (e.g., hypertension and its correlation with liver cancer). Seventeen scholarly articles meeting the inclusion criteria were identified, shedding light on the relationship between metabolic syndrome and various cancers among Nigerians. These studies predominantly reported one or two components of MetS in the context of the specified cancers. Notably, only a singular report discussed the association between MetS and breast cancer within this population. The study highlighted a lack of information regarding the mechanisms linking Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) to carcinogenesis specifically within Nigeria. It suggests the need for further research endeavors aimed at clarifying these mechanisms.