The metabolic syndrome and endothelial dysfunction: common highway to type 2 diabetes and CVD

Due to global lifestyle changes, obesity (the main driver of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease ) is reaching pandemic proportions. The metabolic syndrome, which is regarded as a prediabetic state, is characterized by a concurrence of interrelated cardiovascular risk factors, including abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and glucose intolerance. Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is common in the metabolic syndrome and is associated with increased risk for T2D and CVD. This review focuses on the mechanisms linking ED to the metabolic syndrome, T2D, and CVD, and the possible therapies that may improve ED and reduce T2D and CVD risk.