The metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease

The metabolic syndrome (MS) is a common lifestyle disease in the western world and has significant morbidity and premature mortality, especially regarding cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although insulin resistance (and hyperinsulinaemia) is an early marker of MS and future adverse cardiovascular outcomes, it is not known if on its own this is sufficient. The issue is further clouded in prospective studies by the development in study subjects of some, or all of the components of MS, each of which is an independent risk factor for CVD. Therefore, in spite of a number of appropriate long-term studies, the exact contributions of the individual components of MS remain unclear. Their combination is unequivocally responsible for this presentday epidemic of CVD.