title: Redefining metabolic syndrome as a fat storage condition based on studies of comparative physiology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The metabolic syndrome refers to a constellation of signs including abdominal obesity, elevated serum triglycerides, low HDL-cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, and insulin resistance. Today approximately one third of the adult population has the metabolic syndrome. While there is little doubt that the signs constituting the metabolic syndrome frequently cluster, much controversy exists over the definition, pathogenesis, or clinical utility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here we present evidence from the field of comparative physiology that the metabolic syndrome is similar to the biological process that animals engage to store fat in preparation for periods of food shortage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We propose that the metabolic syndrome be changed to fat storage condition to more clearly align with its etiology. Obesity in humans is likely the consequences of both genetic predisposition (driven in part by thrifty genes) and environment. Recent studies suggest that the loss of the uricase gene may be one factor that predisposes humans to obesity today.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding the process animals engage to switch from a lean insulin-sensitive to an obese insulin-resistant state may provide novel insights into the cause of obesity and diabetes in humans, and unique opportunities for reversing their pathology.
authors: Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado, USA. Richard.Johnson@ucdenver.edu
authors: Richard J
authors: RJ
authors: Johnson
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Stenvinkel
authors: Sandra L
authors: SL
authors: Martin
authors: Alkesh
authors: A
authors: Jani
authors: Laura Gabriela
authors: LG
authors: Sánchez-Lozada
authors: James O
authors: JO
authors: Hill
authors: Miguel A
authors: MA
authors: Lanaspa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D010828:Physiology, Comparative / Q000379:methods*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides
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