Metabolic syndrome and cardiometabolic risk factors.
The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic conditions associated to abdominal obesity, such as elevated blood pressure, impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, elevated triglycerides, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. Each of the associated conditions has an independent effect, but clustering together they become synergistic, making the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) greater. There is a big debate as to whether the MetS alone or its associated health conditions are more important for CVD incidence and mortality or whether prevention and/or treatment of the MetS will reduce CVD incidence and mortality. This article reviews the evidence that demonstrates that individuals with the MetS are at increased risk for CVD incidence and mortality and discusses these debated issues.
Emilia
E
Papakonstantinou
Vaia
V
Lambadiari
George
G
Dimitriadis
Unit of Human Nutrition, Department of Food Science and Technology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, Athens 11855, Greece. azampelas@aua.gr.
Antonis
A
Zampelas
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose