ABSTRACT
The metabolic syndrome (MS) is a complex disorder characterized by simultaneous occurrence of metabolic abnormalities, including high blood pressure (HBP), central adiposity, dyslipidemia (high serum LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides and low serum HDL-cholesterol) and insulin resistance (WHO 1999, Muredach et al. 2003). These conditions are highly prevalent in Western societies and are associated with a vefold risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) and a two-to threefold risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Today, these diseases are considered some of the main health problems of the twenty-rst century (Zimmet and Alberti 2006). MS is also associated with other comorbidities, such as thrombophilia, proinammatory state (Sutherland et al. 2004), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (Kotronen et al. 2007), and reproductive disorders (Ehrmann et al. 2006, Corona et al. 2007).
