Metabolic Solutions Development Co.

Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome consists of a clustering of factors that are known to predispose individuals to the main causes of cardiovascular death, namely heart attacks and strokes. These well-known risk factors include:

Elevated glucose or insulin resistance
Elevated triglycerides
Elevated blood pressure
Low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol
Increased waist size or body weight

The Causes
Dysfunctional cellular and mitochondrial metabolism, characterized as an insulin resistance, is at the core of metabolic syndrome. The dysfunction is a result of inappropriate oxidative metabolism in the energy-producing mitochondria. The peripheral tissues resistance to insulin puts pressure on the β-cells of the pancreatic islets, causing them to produce and secrete more and more insulin.

In individuals who are genetically predisposed to type 2 diabetes, the function of the pancreatic β-cells progressively declines, eventually leading to a rise in circulating glucose (sugar) levels. The changes in pancreatic islet function manifest first as a loss in the regulation of circulating glucose levels after meals and eventually as a rise in fasting glucose levels. Once circulating glucose levels are elevated above established standards, an individual is classified as having type 2 diabetes.

Although circulating glucose is elevated only after pancreatic β-cell function has declined, there is an entire pathology fueled by the metabolic inflammation that affects key risk factors for cardiovascular disease. This pathology occurs both in individuals who are susceptible to and in those who are resistant to developing type 2 diabetes. This pathology is called metabolic syndrome, or cardiometabolic syndrome. Individuals who have metabolic syndrome have the same increased risk of dying from heart attack and stoke as those with diabetes. Individuals with metabolic syndrome also have an increased risk of developing diabetes and cognitive impairment.