Metabolic Syndrome: Early Development and Aging

Abstract

Adult metabolic and heart diseases have their origin early during intrauterine development and childhood. They can be traced to the inherited genome but patterns of cellular gene expression appropriate to the environment during development (epigenetics) also play an important role. This is particularly important during critical periods of time where structural and functional changes known as critical windows. There is a critical window of the pancreas when, if changes in diet occur, the risk of metabolic diseases during adulthood increases. Aging is defined as a series of morphological and functional changes which take place over time. The term also refers to the deterioration of the biological functions after an organism has attained its maximum reproductive potential. The aging process is altered or accelerated when cardio-metabolic diseases are present but also aging makes organisms more susceptible to such ills. The same genes and proteins that might undergo epigenetic changes that predispose to metabolic diseases in the adult, also participate in the acceleration of aging with metabolic syndrome. Aging predisposes to metabolic syndrome, type-2 diabetes or insulin resistance; however, other predisposing conditions such as obesity, inflammation, changes in the activity of the hypothalamus-hypophysis suprarenal axis and in the activity of the autonomous nervous system, hypertension, also contribute to increase its prevalence. J ou rna l o f D ia be tes & M e ta bolism

Low-Grade Systemic Inflammation Connects Aging, Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Disease

“…The term also refers to the deterioration of biological functions after an organism has attained its maximum reproductive potential [1,2]. Aging is accompanied by a chronic inflammatory state which may contribute to metabolic syndrome (MS) and diabetes and their cardiovascular consequences.…”

Late Stage Complications of Diabetes and Insulin Resistance

“…When insulin [64] was discovered, it was felt that diabetes was curable. Insulin is a master regulator of metabolic homeostasis [65] and it is secreted from pancreatic beta cells in response to nutrient stimulation. Insulin is used for treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus, which is characterized by lack of the internally produced hormone [66].…”

Prevalence of Subclinical Hypothyroidism in Metabolic Syndrome and Correlation with Its Components

“…A very consistent finding in all of these studies is that the prevalence of the MetS is highly age dependent. 6 Increases in waist circumference predominate among women, whereas increases in fasting plasma triglyceride levels , reductions in HDL cholesterol levels and hyperglycemias are more likely in men. 10 Indian studies among adults have reported prevalence varying from 13%-24.9% in northern India to 41% in southern India using different definitions.…”