Antoaneta Sawyer, PhD
Metabolic syndrome (also known as insulin resistance syndrome or syndrome X) is the name of a group of risk factors associated with overweight and obesity that can lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and future development of type 2 diabetes. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of dangerous health disorders that work and represent together in a person, and increase his risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), stroke, gout, kidney failure, hypertension, Alzheimer's and even certain cancers.
The most important characteristics of Syndrome X are high triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, low HDL, high LDL, abdominal obesity (apple shape) and high blood glucose. However, increasing evidence suggests the disease originates from both insulin resistance and activation of vascular inflammatory mechanisms related to increased oxidative stress. Insulin resistance results in preferential metabolism of free fatty acids which leads to reduced glucose utilization.
What does metabolic syndrome mean?
Metabolic syndrome is a condition in which a group of risk factors for heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes occur together. According to a report by the National heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), metabolic syndrome is defined by the presence of the following health conditions:
1. Abdominal obesity (apple-shaped obesity)
2. Atherogenic dyslipidemia (High LDL and low HDL)
3. Hypertension (high blood pressure)
4. Insulin resistance and/or glucose intolerance
5. Prothrombotic state (clot in a blood vessel)
6. Proinflammatory state (body inflammation)
Although metabolic syndrome is not yet fully understood, abdominal fat (stored in the abdominal region) and insulin resistance seems to be the main contributing factors of developing the syndrome. The type of fat localized viscerally (abdominal fat) is now considered an active "toxic" tissue, acting as a typical endocrine organ, secreting hormones and other proinflammatory chemicals that can alter metabolism and contribute to insulin resistance.
The appearance of insulin resistance as well as the degree of subclinical inflammation are claimed as main predictors of the syndrome. There is some controversy about insulin levels as the main predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD), although most of the literature data indicate positive correlation. It is already known that elevated blood levels of glucose with increased insulin resistance predict not only the syndrome but many other metabolic disorders, as well.
The infiltration of adipose tissue by inflammatory macrophages is indicated as common feature of obesity. Adipose mass as measured by weight, BMI or visceral obesity correlates quantitatively with genetic expression of macrophages that produce inflammatory mediators and markers. An individual "hip-to-waist" ratio may be the best indicator of one's risk for this disease. Therefore, while Metabolic Syndrome may share some characteristic features with diabetes, it is not a diabetic condition, per se.
The National Health and Blood Institute (NHLBI) estimates that in the U.S. about 47 million (at around 25%) adults have metabolic syndrome. It can affect anyone but it is most frequently seen in those who are obese or significantly overweight (especially in the abdominal area) and those leading a sedentary lifestyle. People suffering of metabolic syndrome are three times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke and one in four are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than someone without the syndrome.
Diagnosing the metabolic syndrome requires presence of at least three of the following risk factors.
1. Abdominal obesity (men- more than 40 inches; women- more than 35 inches).
2. Elevated fasting glucose (more than 110 mg/dL).
3. Elevated triglycerides (more than 150 mg/dL).
4. Reduced HDL cholesterol (men- less than 40 mg/dL; women- less than 50 mg/dL).
5. Elevated blood pressure (more than 130/85 mmHG).
Key indicators for diagnosing the syndrome X are: (Source, Scientific Publishing Ltd)
a). Waistline measurements exceeding 36 inches for women or 40 inches for men
b). Blood pressure above 130/85 mmHG
c). Triglycerides exceeding 150 mg/dL
d). Fasting blood glucose higher than 110 mg/dL
e). HDL (High density lipoprotein) levels below 50 mg/dL (women) or 40 mg/dL(men)
Beyond this considerations, three specific group of patients are associated with metabolic syndrome:
a). Diabetics who cannot maintain normal glucose levels with diet and exercise.
b). Non-diabetics with pre-diabetic levels of blood glucose and high blood pressure
c). People with previous heart incident (heart attack) with high insulin levels but still glucose tolerant.
External links: NH-WC "Beyond Holistic" LLC
In order to receive the daily articles please subscribe here: Milwaukee Diets Examiner
Photo credit: Flickr
The most important characteristics of Syndrome X are high triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, low HDL, high LDL, abdominal obesity (apple shape) and high blood glucose. However, increasing evidence suggests the disease originates from both insulin resistance and activation of vascular inflammatory mechanisms related to increased oxidative stress. Insulin resistance results in preferential metabolism of free fatty acids which leads to reduced glucose utilization.
What does metabolic syndrome mean?
Metabolic syndrome is a condition in which a group of risk factors for heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes occur together. According to a report by the National heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), metabolic syndrome is defined by the presence of the following health conditions:
1. Abdominal obesity (apple-shaped obesity)
2. Atherogenic dyslipidemia (High LDL and low HDL)
3. Hypertension (high blood pressure)
4. Insulin resistance and/or glucose intolerance
5. Prothrombotic state (clot in a blood vessel)
6. Proinflammatory state (body inflammation)
Although metabolic syndrome is not yet fully understood, abdominal fat (stored in the abdominal region) and insulin resistance seems to be the main contributing factors of developing the syndrome. The type of fat localized viscerally (abdominal fat) is now considered an active "toxic" tissue, acting as a typical endocrine organ, secreting hormones and other proinflammatory chemicals that can alter metabolism and contribute to insulin resistance.
The appearance of insulin resistance as well as the degree of subclinical inflammation are claimed as main predictors of the syndrome. There is some controversy about insulin levels as the main predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD), although most of the literature data indicate positive correlation. It is already known that elevated blood levels of glucose with increased insulin resistance predict not only the syndrome but many other metabolic disorders, as well.
The infiltration of adipose tissue by inflammatory macrophages is indicated as common feature of obesity. Adipose mass as measured by weight, BMI or visceral obesity correlates quantitatively with genetic expression of macrophages that produce inflammatory mediators and markers. An individual "hip-to-waist" ratio may be the best indicator of one's risk for this disease. Therefore, while Metabolic Syndrome may share some characteristic features with diabetes, it is not a diabetic condition, per se.
The National Health and Blood Institute (NHLBI) estimates that in the U.S. about 47 million (at around 25%) adults have metabolic syndrome. It can affect anyone but it is most frequently seen in those who are obese or significantly overweight (especially in the abdominal area) and those leading a sedentary lifestyle. People suffering of metabolic syndrome are three times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke and one in four are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than someone without the syndrome.
Diagnosing the metabolic syndrome requires presence of at least three of the following risk factors.
1. Abdominal obesity (men- more than 40 inches; women- more than 35 inches).
2. Elevated fasting glucose (more than 110 mg/dL).
3. Elevated triglycerides (more than 150 mg/dL).
4. Reduced HDL cholesterol (men- less than 40 mg/dL; women- less than 50 mg/dL).
5. Elevated blood pressure (more than 130/85 mmHG).
Key indicators for diagnosing the syndrome X are: (Source, Scientific Publishing Ltd)
a). Waistline measurements exceeding 36 inches for women or 40 inches for men
b). Blood pressure above 130/85 mmHG
c). Triglycerides exceeding 150 mg/dL
d). Fasting blood glucose higher than 110 mg/dL
e). HDL (High density lipoprotein) levels below 50 mg/dL (women) or 40 mg/dL(men)
Beyond this considerations, three specific group of patients are associated with metabolic syndrome:
a). Diabetics who cannot maintain normal glucose levels with diet and exercise.
b). Non-diabetics with pre-diabetic levels of blood glucose and high blood pressure
c). People with previous heart incident (heart attack) with high insulin levels but still glucose tolerant.
External links: NH-WC "Beyond Holistic" LLC
In order to receive the daily articles please subscribe here: Milwaukee Diets Examiner
Photo credit: Flickr
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