ABSTRACT
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex disorder characterized by central obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia with raised triacylglycerols, and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), hypertension, and inammation (Moller and Kaufman, 2005). While details differ between numerous denitions, all agree on the essential components, such as obesity, insulin resistance/glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension (NCEP ATP III, 2002). MetS is a high-prevalence condition, affecting almost a quarter of the global adult population, increasing among men and women of all ages and ethnicities and correlating with the global epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (Ford et al., 2010). MetS is associated with severe health complications, such as an increased risk of T2DM and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Interactions between genetic and environmental factors, such as diet and lifestyle, particularly over-nutrition and sedentary behavior, promote the progression and pathogenesis of these polygenic diet-related diseases (Phillips, 2013). Heritability rates of 25%–40% are attributed for body mass index fat (Vogler et al., 1995), and 10%–30% for MetS (Henneman et al., 2008; Bellia et al., 2009), indicating that these conditions are partly heritable.
