Abstract
It has recently been recommended by a WHO expert committee that the insulin resistance syndrome, a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors linked to insulin resistance, should be termed ‘the metabolic syndrome’. Characterisation with data from 2 large databases [the European Group for the study of Insulin Resistance (EGIR) and the Danish Twin Register] has shown that insulin resistance correlates closely with the various components of the metabolic syndrome, and that the prevalence of the syndrome is approximately 16% among Caucasians. Both genetically determined and environmentally induced insulin resistance may precipitate onset of the metabolic syndrome, and increased levels of abdominal fat may be of primary importance in its development.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Reaven GM. Banting lecture 1988. Role of insulin resistance in human disease. Diabetes 1988; 37: 1595–607
Alberti KGMM, Zimmet PZ, for the WHO consultation group. Definition, diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus and its complications. Pt 1. Diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus. Provisional report of a WHO consultation. Diabetes Med 1998; 15: 539–53
Ferrannini E, Vichi S, Beck-Nielsen H, et al. European Group for the study of Insulin Resistance (EGIR). Insulin action and age. Diabetes 1996; 45: 947–53
Kyvik KO, Green A, Beck-Nielsen H. The new Danish Twin Register: establishment and analysis of twinning rates. Int J Epidemiol 1995; 24: 589–96
Beck-Nielsen H, Groop L. Metabolic and genetic characterization of prediabetic states. Sequence of events leading to non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. J Clin Invest 1994; 94: 1714–21
Martin BC, Warram JH, Krolewski AS, et al. Role of glucose and insulin resistance in development of type 2 diabetes mellitus: results of a 25-year follow-up study. Lancet 1992; 340: 925–9
Vaag A, Henriksen JE, Beck-Nielsen H. Decreased insulin activition of glycogen synthase in skeletal muscles in young nonobese Caucasian first-degree relatives of patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. J Clin Invest 1992; 89: 782–8
Poulsen P, Kyvik KO, Vaag A, et al. Heritability of type II diabetes mellitus and abnormal glucose tolerance: a population-based twin study. Diabetologia 1999; 42: 139–45
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Beck-Nielsen, H. General Characteristics of the Insulin Resistance Syndrome. Drugs 58 (Suppl 1), 7–10 (1999). https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-199958001-00003
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-199958001-00003