Insulin Resistance Related to Metabolic Syndrome

Insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome are one of the major factors associated with higher risks of developing cardiovascular diseases and Type II Diabetes (T2D). Insulin resistance is believed to be one of the underlying causes of the development of T2D. There are numerous environmental and genetic factors influencing the development of these conditions, and while there have been many studies conducted on the topic, there are still many gaps in the scholarly literature on the topic. The interplay between genetic and environmental factors is quite complex, considering that there are many genes involved in the regulation of energy consumption as well as in the protective functions of an organism. Currently, the prevalence of insulin resistance among different populations ranges from 20% to 40%. Still, while the studies conducted before 2016 have found 88 loci associated with the development of T2D most of them are associated with secretion of insulin and function of beta-cell, and far fewer studies have identified loci associated with insulin resistance. This means that the vast majority of studies are either focused on the insulin response pathway or on the immune response to inflammatory processes caused by metabolic disorders. It can be concluded that biological and genetic mechanisms underlying the development of insulin resistance in metabolic syndrome are complex. For now, it is known that insulin resistance in metabolic syndrome develops due to malfunctioning insulin response pathway, or malfunctioning chronic inflammation response system, and other problems associated with energy and fatty acid metabolism. Considering that the rates of obesity and T2D in developing countries are alarming, it is highly important to develop effective evidence-based interventions targeting this problem.