Implications for Treatment of the Metabolic Syndrome

Implications for Treatment of the Metabolic Syndrome

To characterize features of metabolic syndrome in volunteers. To undertake a randomised trial to determine whether treatment with a statin improves muscle microvascular blood flow.

To characterise features of the metabolic syndrome, including body fat, insulin sensitivity, and liver fat together with muscle micorvascular blood flow.

To undertake a randomised controlled trial of atorvastatin 40 mg. o.d for 6 months to determine whether any of the above measures change with treatment.

Inclusion criteria Body mass index (BMI) 20-35 kg/m^2" and "> 3 criteria for the metabolic syndrome (NCEP III ATP criteria - see below) , one of which will be hypertriglyceridaemia, i.e. fasting plasma triglycerides >2.0 mmol/L - a cardinal lipid abnormality of the syndrome

NCEP III ATP metabolic syndrome criteria are:

Waist greater than or equal to 102 cm BP greater than 130 / 85 mmHg TG greater than or equal to 1.7mmol/l Glucose greater than or equal to 6.1 mmol/l HDL less than 1.0 mmol/l

Exclusion Criteria:

Aged <18 years Aged >75 years Known diabetes; renal, liver, or uncontrolled thyroid disease; uncontrolled hypertension; treatment with lipid-modifying drugs; antihypertensive medication; corticosteroid therapy; or hormone replacement therapy.