Metabolic Syndrome

The metabolic syndrome is a typical disease of civilization and consists of the following diseases (also called fatal quartet):

1. obesity,
2. diabetes,
3. lipometabolic disorders and
4. hypertension.

The fat distribution pattern is important for the cardiovascular risk: an increased waist circumference plays a significant role. Fat deposits in the abdomen and on the internal organs from are considered a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Intra-abdominal fat affects fat and carbohydrate metabolism with the possible consequence of dyslipidemia and diabetes.

The most important disorders in metabolic syndrome affects muscle cells: Decreased uptake of glucose from the blood. Consequence: Increase in blood glucose.

• Fat cells: Lower uptake of blood glucose. Consequences: Increase in blood glucose and, in addition, increased release of fatty acids due to disruption of fat metabolism.

• Liver cells: Decreased uptake of blood glucose. Consequences: Blood glucose increase due to several causes: in addition to lower glucose uptake in the liver, increased glucose production (gluconeogenesis), as well as conversion of glycogen into glucose (glycogenolysis). Furthermore, also in the liver disturbance of lipid metabolism with increase of blood lipids (triglycerides, LDL cholesterol).

• Kidney: Among other things, lower excretion of common salt. Consequence: Increase in blood pressure.

• Coagulation system: increasing tendency of blood to form clots. Consequence: Clogging of the of the arteries.

• Endothelium (inner walls of vessels): elevated blood glucose, blood pressure and elevated blood lipids lead to massive disturbances of endothelial metabolism with chronic inflammation of the vessel wall. Consequence: increasing destruction of the vessels (arteries).

If the vessels are destroyed and at the same time there is an increased tendency for them to become clogged, at some point a blockage will occur very quickly. As a result, part of an organ is suddenly no longer supplied with blood. The supply is cut off, and this part of the organ perishes.

In the heart, this leads to myocardial infarction, in the brain to cerebral infarction (stroke), and in the extremities to diabetic gangrene.