Journal of Metabolic Syndrome

Objective: We sought to assess and compare the effects of myo-inositol combined with monacolin k (Group A) versus inositol only (Group B) and metformin (Group C), on the clinical, hormonal, metabolic and lipid profiles of insulin-resistant PCOS patients.

Study design: 60 insulin resistant PCOS patients were randomly assigned into three groups. All groups were treated for 6 months with either myo-inositol and monacolin k, inositol only or metformin. Patients clinical, hormonal and metabolic profiles were compared between all groups, and within each group, prior and following the aforementioned treatment.

Results: All treatment arms improved patients’ clinical, hormonal and metabolic profiles, with a tendency toward better results in patients using the combination of myo-inositol and monacolin k.

Conclusion: The combined treatment with the natural products: monacolin K and myo-inositol represents a valid and well tolerated alternative to the common medical therapy, improving the PCOS related symptoms, with minimal side effects.

Background: NW (night work) and SW (shift work) are associated with increased risk for metabolic conditions and cardiovascular disease. This study was planned to evaluate serum melatonin level related to metabolic syndrome and subclinical vascular consequences in shift working men.

Methods: Eighty-six shift working healthy men between 30-55 years old were studied. Anthropometric parameters and fasting blood glucose, lipids, Ox-LDL, Insulin and morning melatonin were measured. Pulse wave analysis was performed via SphygmoCor® to obtain surrogate markers for arterial stiffness.

Results: Of the 86 subjects, 19 (21.1%) had metabolic syndrome . Serum melatonin level was significantly lower in subjects with metabolic syndrome compared with normal group (p = 0.014). Insulin resistance was present in 27(30.7%) of cases .In addition, Serum melatonin was higher in group with Framingham’s risk score ≤ 5% versus group with scores ≥5% (p=0.02). Melatonin had inverse correlation with radial and aortic systolic pressures P= 0.005, p=0.02, radial and aortic pulse pressures (P < 0.001, p=0.0001) and cardiac end systolic pressure,( p=0.03), respectively. Odds ratio of low melatonin level (<50%) for Pulse pressure amplification ≤ 75% quartile was 3.25, P=0.02.

Conclusions: Taken together, the inverse relationship of melatonin level and metabolic syndrome and Framingham risk score as well as peripheral and central blood pressure, cardiac end systolic pressure, and its direct relation to pulse pressure amplification highlighted its potential impact on pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome and arterial stiffness.

Background: The prevalence of obesity and related diseases such as metabolic syndrome (MetS) are increasing in young populations over the world, especially in developing countries. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of MetS and its individual components, and to assess their association with both overweight/obesity and excess body fat.

Methods: This study included 192 adolescents (77 boys and 115 girls) aged 11 to 17 years. Blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were done using standardized techniques. Fasting blood samples were taken for determination of glucose and lipids levels. Percent body fat was estimated using deuterium oxide. The international diabetes federation criteria were applied for the diagnosis of MetS.

Results: The prevalence of MetS among overweight/obese adolescents was 18.6% while it was not observed in their normal weight counterparts. The most common abnormality found in the study population was reduced HDLcholesterol (26.6%) followed by elevated fasting blood glucose (22.4%) and high waist circumference (19.3%). Among overweight/obese groups, the rates of individuals with raised TG and reduced HDL-cholesterol were significantly higher in boys than girls (35.0% vs. 15.2%, p=0.044; and 32.5% vs. 13.0%, p=0.038, respectively). Compared to normal-weight adolescents, overweight/obese subjects had higher odds of having at least two MetS components (OR=5.37, 95%CI: 2.72-10.59), or at least three MetS components (OR=11.80, 95%CI: 3.40-41.03). Excess body fat showed similar degrees of association with clustering MetS components.

Conclusions: The prevalence of MetS and its individual components was quite high among the study population, particularly among overweight/obese adolescents. MetS components were strongly associated with both overweight/ obesity and excess body fat. MetS and its components might be best predicted by obesity indexes, determined according to age and body mass index in adolescents, than accurate percent body fat.

The number of individuals diagnosed with metabolic syndrome has risen dramatically in recent years. Although not a disease itself, metabolic syndrome significantly raises the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus, both considered to be epidemics. Therefore, it is critical to promote aggressive therapies that effectively combat conditions associated with the metabolic syndrome. However, treating metabolic syndrome is complicated due to the complex nature of its pathophysiology coinciding with the many health abnormalities metabolic syndrome is often associated with, including but not limited to, insulin resistance, central obesity, hypertension, and atherogenic dyslipidemia. One promising compound that has been demonstrated to alleviate metabolic syndrome is fiber. The various types of fiber work through multiple mechanisms of action in the human body and can potentially result in weight loss in addition to blood glucose control and the lowering of cholesterol. Therefore, increasing intake of dietary fiber might prevent or even reverse some of the negative health anomalies associated with metabolic syndrome. The purpose of this review is to provide a cursory overview of the core components of metabolic syndrome and address how fiber intake may combat these conditions.