title: Ectopic fat accumulation and metabolic syndrome.
abstract: The recent escalation of obesity from an individual health problem to a major public health issue reaching epidemic proportions has drawn attention to a constellation of abnormalities (abdominal obesity, hypertension and dyslipidaemia) collectively referred to as metabolic syndrome. As an indicator of insulin resistance and a harbinger of diabetes, this syndrome has been associated with major cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Yet, the exact pathophysiological events leading to the development of metabolic syndrome remain unknown. We review some of the current literature on the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome with an emphasis on the role of ectopic lipid accumulation.
authors.affiliation: The Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Little Rock, AR, USA. rasoulineda@uams.edu
authors.forename: Neda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rasouli
authors.forename: Behzad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Molavi
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Elbein
authors.forename: Philip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Kern
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D050154:Adiposity; D002828:Choristoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology