DiseasesMetabolic syndrome—a silent mix of diseases?
- Bracia Rodzeń — Dla Lekarzy
- M. Williamson i N. Moustaid-Moussa i L. Gollahon — Frontiers | The Molecular Effects of Dietary Acid Load on Metabolic Disease (The Cellular PasaDoble: The Fast-Paced Dance of pH Regulation)
- The metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk a systematic review and meta-analysis. · J Am Coll Cardiol 2010
- Aerobic, resistance or combined training: A systematic review and meta-analysis of exercise to reduce cardiovascular risk in adults with metabolic syndrome. · Atherosclerosis 2018
- Effects of aerobic, resistance, and combined exercise on metabolic syndrome parameters and cardiovascular risk factors: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. · Rev Cardiovasc Med 2021
- Triglyceride/High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Ratio: A Clue to Metabolic Syndrome, Insulin Resistance, and Severe Atherosclerosis. · Lipids 2021
- The CDKN2A/B rs10811661 polymorphism is associated with metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and lipid levels in individuals with obesity and impaired fasting glucose. · Clin Biochem 2026
- Orthomolecular Medicine News Service — Benfotiamine in the Management of Insulin Resistance in Type II Diabetes: A Personal Account
- Orthomolecular Medicine News Service — Niacin, NAD⁺, and Insulin Resistance
- Orthomolecular Medicine News Service — Reigniting Hope: Managing Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with Integrative Orthomolecular Medicine
The Rodzeń brothers point out that metabolic risk factors are linked to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, dementia, and cancer.
- They list obesity, high insulin or glucose levels, high blood pressure, and an abnormal lipid profile among the main features of metabolic syndrome.
- M. Williamson, N. Moustaid-Moussa, and L. Gollahon describe how metabolic disorders often occur together and how a poor diet is one of their shared risk factors.
- They also list inflammation, oxidative stress, excess calcium excretion, and metabolic acidosis as conditions that may precede insulin resistance, diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure.
What the authors write
The main features of metabolic syndrome include obesity, high insulin or glucose levels, high blood pressure, and an abnormal lipid profile.
Metabolic risk factors are linked to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, dementia, and cancer.
Metabolic disorders often occur together and share symptoms and risk factors, such as a poor diet.
Inflammation, oxidative stress, excess calcium excretion, and metabolic acidosis may precede insulin resistance, diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure.
Research from PubMed · Europe PMC
We selected 5 studies with the best, positive results. This is a selection, not a full review of all research.
Total number of studies on this topic in PubMed: 55 364.
A meta-analysis found that metabolic syndrome is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, death, heart attack, and stroke.
Aim of the study: We sought to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the cardiovascular risk associated with the metabolic syndrome as defined by the 2001 National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) and 2004 revised National Cholesterol Education Program (rNCEP) definitions. Numerous studies have investigated the cardiovascular risk associated with the NCEP and rNCEP definitions of the metabolic syndrome.
Results: We identified 87 studies, which included 951,083 patients (NCEP: 63 studies, 497,651 patients; rNCEP: 33 studies, 453,432 patients). There was little variation between the cardiovascular risk associated with NCEP and rNCEP definitions. When both definitions were pooled, the metabolic syndrome was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) (relative risk [RR]: 2.35; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.02 to 2.73), CVD mortality (RR: 2.40; 95% CI: 1.87 to 3.08), all-cause mortality (RR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.39 to 1.78), myocardial infarction (RR: 1.99; 95% CI: 1.61 to 2.46), and stroke (RR: 2.27; 95% CI: 1.80 to 2.85). Patients with the metabolic syndrome, but without diabetes, maintained a high cardiovascular risk. The metabolic syndrome is associated with a 2-fold increase in cardiovascular outcomes and a 1.5-fold increase in all-cause mortality.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
A review found that aerobic exercise improves several cardiovascular risk factors in people with metabolic syndrome who do not have diabetes.
Aim of the study: Exercise is beneficial to individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS). An understudied group, who represent the majority of the MetS population, are individuals who have not developed diabetes. This review examined aerobic, resistance and combined (aerobic + resistance) exercise for cardiovascular risk factors in MetS without diabetes.
Results: Eleven studies with 16 interventions were included (12 aerobic, 4 resistance). Aerobic exercise significantly improved waist circumference -3.4 cm (p < 0.01), fasting glucose -0.15 mmol/L (p = 0.03), high-density cholesterol 0.05 mmol/L (p = 0.02), triglycerides -0.29 mmol/L (p < 0.01), diastolic blood pressure -1.6 mmHg (p = 0.01), and cardiorespiratory fitness 4.2 ml/kg/min (p < 0.01), among other outcomes. No significant effects were determined following resistance exercise possibly due to limited data. Sub-analyses suggested that aerobic exercise progressed to vigorous intensity, and conducted 3 days/week for ≥12 weeks offered larger and more widespread improvements. Aerobic exercise following current guidelines offers widespread benefits to individuals with MetS without diabetes. More studies on resistance/combined exercise programs in MetS are required to improve the quality of evidence.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
A meta-analysis found that exercise combining aerobic and resistance training was most effective at lowering glucose and triglyceride levels.
Aim of the study: This study examines the effects of aerobic, resistance, and combined exercise on metabolic syndrome parameters and cardiovascular risk factors, to identify the most effective way of improving metabolic syndrome and preventing cardiovascular disease.
Results: Resistance exercise was most effective at ameliorating body fat, LDL-C levels, and SBP. Aerobic exercise was the optimal way of improving BMI and HDL-C levels. This network meta-analysis suggests combined exercise is the most effective choice in improving the metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk parameters, whereas aerobic exercise reveals the minimum effect. Further studies should certify the role resistance exercises play in metabolic syndrome and cardiac rehabilitation.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
In three study groups, a higher triglyceride-to-HDL ratio was associated with metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and more severe atherosclerosis.
Aim of the study: High serum levels of triglycerides (Tg) and low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are characteristic of the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). We assessed the ratio of Tg to HDL-C as a way to identify MetS and insulin resistance.
Results: A Tg/HDL-C ratio above the optimal cutoff level significantly increased the odds ratio for MetS in the three cohorts (OR 6.00, 4.04, and 3.50, least in the healthy population), identified insulin resistance defined by the homeostatic model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (p < 0.0001), and was strongly associated with atherosclerosis severity (p = 0.0001). Tg/HDL-C ratio identifies persons with MetS, insulin resistance, and severe atherosclerosis. It should be used more widely to identify patients at high risk. This is clinically important because insulin resistance is treatable.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
In people with obesity and impaired fasting glucose, the TT variant was associated with more frequent metabolic syndrome and adverse metabolic traits.
Aim of the study: A significant association has been confirmed between the rs10811661 polymorphism in the CDKN2 gene, and increased susceptibility to type 2 diabetes. The present study aimed to investigate the association of the rs10811661 polymorphism with metabolic syndrome (MS) in individuals with obesity and impaired fasting glucose (IFG).
Results: The CDKN2A/B rs10811661 TT genotype is associated with a higher prevalence of MS and adverse metabolic traits in individuals with obesity and IFG.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
Perspectives and opinion materials
The content below presents the authors’ opinions, interpretations and hypotheses. It is not treated as equal to scientific studies and systematic reviews.
Pisaczek does not judge who is right. It shows what was written and where to read it. Every sentence above has its source.