Which of the following is NOT considered a component of metabolic syndrome?

• A. Low HDL cholesterol
• B. High fasting blood glucose
• C. Elevated blood pressure
• D. Elevated white blood cell count

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand what metabolic syndrome is. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that occur together, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
2. Step 2: Identify the key components of metabolic syndrome. These typically include: low HDL cholesterol, high fasting blood glucose, elevated blood pressure, increased waist circumference (abdominal obesity), and high triglyceride levels.
3. Step 3: Review each option given in the problem and compare it to the known components of metabolic syndrome.
4. Step 4: Recognize that low HDL cholesterol, high fasting blood glucose, and elevated blood pressure are all established components of metabolic syndrome.
5. Step 5: Note that elevated white blood cell count is not a recognized component of metabolic syndrome, making it the correct answer as the item NOT considered part of the syndrome.