Using logistic regression analysis, nine of the 86 proteins were related to all five components of the MetS in PIVUS following adjustment for life-style factors using FDR < 0.05 (Leptin, Fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4), Tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IL-1RA, see Fig. 1), Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), Tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 14 (TNFSF14), Cathepsin D (CTSD), C–C motif chemokine 3 (CCL3), Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1)) (for details see Additional file 1: Table S1). Here, CTSD is linked to metabolic syndrome.