Differential impact of maternal and paternal metabolic syndrome on offspring's cardiometabolic risk factors.

Parental metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased cardiometabolic risk in offspring, yet the distinct impacts of maternal versus paternal MetS remain poorly understood. Evidence on sex-specific susceptibility during adolescence is particularly limited, despite this being a critical period for the development of chronic metabolic conditions. Using a comprehensive dataset of 5,245 patients selected from a nationally representative database, we examined the differential association of maternal and paternal MetS with cardiometabolic outcomes in adolescent offspring and their variation by offspring sex. Overall, paternal MetS was associated with higher triglyceride and lower HDL cholesterol in male offspring. In contrast, maternal MetS was linked to higher triglyceride levels in both sexes, with additional associations with elevated systolic blood pressure and lower HDL cholesterol only in males. The odds of MetS and its components were most elevated in male adolescents in both paternal and maternal MetS. In conclusion, paternal MetS appeared to exert a stronger influence, particularly in male adolescents. Our findings suggest that both parental and offspring sexes modify the intergenerational transmission of metabolic risk; it is crucial to consider both parental and offspring sexes for effective screening and the prevention of MetS.