ABSTRACT
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) describes a cluster of risk factors (including central obesity, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension) that predispose to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Because of the growing prevalence of obesity, which contributes strongly to the risk of MetS, rates are increasing in both developed and developing countries. However, despite its public health importance, the etiology of MetS is still poorly understood.
