Pathophysiology of dyslipidaemia in the metabolic syndrome

The insulin resistance/ metabolic syndrome is characterised by the variable coexistence of hyperinsulinaemia, obesity, dyslipidaemia, and hypertension. The pathogenesis of the syndrome has multiple origins, but obesity and sedentary lifestyle coupled with diet and still largely unknown genetic factors clearly interact to produce the syndrome. Dyslipidaemia, the hallmark of the metabolic syndrome, includes increased flux of free fatty acids, raised triglycerides, apolipoprotein B, and small dense low density lipoprotein, and decreased high density lipoprotein cholesterol. The widely prevalent nature of the metabolic syndrome emphasises the importance of its diagnosis and treatment. This review analyses the clinical and dynamic features of this syndrome in the aspect of dyslipidaemia and its management.