I was looking at this article from the Alternative Medicine Blog about Metabolic Syndrome X today when researching reasons that my friend couldn’t lose weight. My comments are in bold italics.
Syndrome X also known as metabolic syndrome is a condition that has at its center insulin resistance and at least 3 of the other 5 diagnostic criteria. These other criteria according to Steinbaum (2004) are:
Insulin resistance is a big part of obesity and diabetes, the potential for it scares the heck out of me.
-Abdominal obesity, waist circumference of 40 inches or more for men, 35 inches or more for women.
-Elevated triglycerides, >150mg/dL
-Lowered HDL cholesterol, <40mg/dL men, <50mg/gL women)
-Hypertension, >130/85mmHg
-And elevated fasting glucose levels. >110mg/dl (but this number was lowered to
100mg/dL since Steinbaum wrote her paper)
These are all symptoms that I personally have had at one time or another, except hypertension.
Insulin resistance happens when target tissue are unable to respond adequately to proper insulin level. Because these cells are unresponsive, B-cells of Langerhans secrete more insulin, starting a viscous cycle because as resistance worsens, secretion increases.
I’ve read many times in the works of Dr. Joseph Mercola, that one of the main causes of insulin resistance is too many grains or grain based foods in our diets.
Steinbaum (2004) calls the overproduction of glucose by the liver, the impaired peripheral glucose utilization, and the increased production of fatty acids the “hallmarks of metabolic syndrome”.
Once the beta cells can no longer maintain the high rate of insulin production, we find an increase in hepatic glucose production in both, the fasting state and after a meal, with decreased glucose absorption, eventually leading to type II diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is the less scary of the diabetes, being preventable and even “curable” with proper diet and exercise.
The abnormal fatty acid metabolism and increased abdominal obesity also lead to an increase in glucose production. The intra-abdominal adipose tissue does not react to insulin. Because of that, it undergoes lipolysis creating free fatty acids. Once in the liver, these free fatty acids churn up glucose production and for triglycerides. Everything I just described, impaired glucose tolerance, hyperinsulinemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and visceral body fat are found in syndrome X. Moreover, this mechanism is ultimately responsible for coronary disease.
A vicious cycle; insulin resistance makes you fatter, getting fatter increases insulin resistance.
One theory connects hyperinsulinemia with cardiovascular disease because of an increase in the hypercoagulable state and because insulin affects thrombosis. Impaired glucose tolerance and hyperinsulinemia contribute to impaired fibrinilysis. This can be observed by increased levels of plasminogen activation inhibitor-1 antigen (PAI-1) and tissue plasminogen activator antigen (t-PA). PAI-1 prevents clot dissolution by inhibiting t-PA and research shows that these factors contribute to coronary artery disease.
More reasons that heart disease is our number one killer.
According to Garvey and Hermayer, (1998) the clinical implications are the following:
There is not one single standardized test for the metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome should lead to careful screening and monitoring of other co-conditions.
Patients with metabolic syndrome require more aggressive treatment for the cardiovascular risk profile.
This makes sense. Monitoring other co-conditions is of great importance, especially when you’re on your way to being healthy.
Drug therapy to avoid worsening of metabolic syndrome
Primary goal of treatment is to normalize all abnormalities that are associated with metabolic syndrome.
From my POV, embracing natural treatments/diet and exercise to gain control of these symptoms is the best way to go, at least in the long run.
Beste Gesundheit,
Werner
For a couple of great books on how to beat Metabolic Syndrome X check out Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Disease
or The Metabolic Syndrome Program: How to Lose Weight, Beat Heart Disease, Stop Insulin Resistance and More
-Abdominal obesity, waist circumference of 40 inches or more for men, 35 inches or more for women.
-Elevated triglycerides, >150mg/dL
-Lowered HDL cholesterol, <40mg/dL men, <50mg/gL women)
-Hypertension, >130/85mmHg
-And elevated fasting glucose levels. >110mg/dl (but this number was lowered to
100mg/dL since Steinbaum wrote her paper)
These are all symptoms that I personally have had at one time or another, except hypertension.
Insulin resistance happens when target tissue are unable to respond adequately to proper insulin level. Because these cells are unresponsive, B-cells of Langerhans secrete more insulin, starting a viscous cycle because as resistance worsens, secretion increases.
I’ve read many times in the works of Dr. Joseph Mercola, that one of the main causes of insulin resistance is too many grains or grain based foods in our diets.
Steinbaum (2004) calls the overproduction of glucose by the liver, the impaired peripheral glucose utilization, and the increased production of fatty acids the “hallmarks of metabolic syndrome”.
Once the beta cells can no longer maintain the high rate of insulin production, we find an increase in hepatic glucose production in both, the fasting state and after a meal, with decreased glucose absorption, eventually leading to type II diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is the less scary of the diabetes, being preventable and even “curable” with proper diet and exercise.
The abnormal fatty acid metabolism and increased abdominal obesity also lead to an increase in glucose production. The intra-abdominal adipose tissue does not react to insulin. Because of that, it undergoes lipolysis creating free fatty acids. Once in the liver, these free fatty acids churn up glucose production and for triglycerides. Everything I just described, impaired glucose tolerance, hyperinsulinemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and visceral body fat are found in syndrome X. Moreover, this mechanism is ultimately responsible for coronary disease.
A vicious cycle; insulin resistance makes you fatter, getting fatter increases insulin resistance.
One theory connects hyperinsulinemia with cardiovascular disease because of an increase in the hypercoagulable state and because insulin affects thrombosis. Impaired glucose tolerance and hyperinsulinemia contribute to impaired fibrinilysis. This can be observed by increased levels of plasminogen activation inhibitor-1 antigen (PAI-1) and tissue plasminogen activator antigen (t-PA). PAI-1 prevents clot dissolution by inhibiting t-PA and research shows that these factors contribute to coronary artery disease.
More reasons that heart disease is our number one killer.
According to Garvey and Hermayer, (1998) the clinical implications are the following:
There is not one single standardized test for the metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome should lead to careful screening and monitoring of other co-conditions.
Patients with metabolic syndrome require more aggressive treatment for the cardiovascular risk profile.
This makes sense. Monitoring other co-conditions is of great importance, especially when you’re on your way to being healthy.
Drug therapy to avoid worsening of metabolic syndrome
Primary goal of treatment is to normalize all abnormalities that are associated with metabolic syndrome.
From my POV, embracing natural treatments/diet and exercise to gain control of these symptoms is the best way to go, at least in the long run.
Beste Gesundheit,
Werner
For a couple of great books on how to beat Metabolic Syndrome X check out Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Disease
or The Metabolic Syndrome Program: How to Lose Weight, Beat Heart Disease, Stop Insulin Resistance and More
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