ABSTRACT
Metabolic syndrome or syndromeXwas defined initially according to the presence of atherogenic risk factors combined with underlying insulin resistance (1). This definition now includes insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, presence or absence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and any two of the following: hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia, and microalbumineria (2). Dyslipidemia [low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), high triglycerides (TGs)] and insulin resistance predict risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) even in healthy individuals. Three times more coronary heart diseases and strokes are observed in subjects with metabolic syndrome, while central obesity is a key etiological factor for underlying insulin resistance (3).
