A multifaceted syndrome characterized by clustering of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia, associated with dyslipidemia, essential hypertension, abdominal obesity, glucose intolerance or noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus, and an increased risk of cardiovascular events.

Metabolic syndrome is a clustering of at least three of the following five medical conditions: abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high serum triglycerides, and low serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Metabolic syndrome is associated with the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. In the U.S., about 25% of the adult population has metabolic syndrome, a proportion increasing with age, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities. Insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and prediabetes are closely related to one another and have overlapping aspects...