Interplay between proteins and metabolic syndrome-A review.

Metabolic syndrome is characterized by hypertension; hyperglycemia; hypertriglyceridemia; reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and abdominal obesity. Abundant data suggest that, compared with other people, patients meeting these diagnostic criteria have a greater risk of having substantial clinical consequences, the two most prominent of which are the development of diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease. The metabolic syndrome is a health issue of epidemic proportions. Its prevalence in the world continues to increase, hand in hand with that of obesity. Protein, on the other hand, is the foundation of cell-building, especially in muscle tissue. The body needs protein to build not only muscle cells, but the cells of major organs, skin and red blood cells. For people with metabolic syndrome, one of the other functions of protein is to slow down the absorption of carbohydrates. When proteins are consumed with carbohydrates, it takes longer for the digestive system to break down that meal. This means that the sugar created from those carbohydrates is released at a slower rate, preventing spikes in both blood sugar and insulin. As the understanding of the metabolic syndrome evolves, it is likely that more comprehensive therapeutic options will become available.