Oxidized LDL and the metabolic syndrome

Abstract

The metabolic syndrome is a common and complex disorder combining obesity,dyslipidemia, hypertension and insulin resistance. It is associated with a highcardiovascular risk that can only partially be explained by its components. Thereis evidence that low-grade inflammation and high oxidative stress add to thisrisk. Oxidized LDL, a marker of lipoprotein-associated oxidative stress, is anemerging cardiovascular risk factor. In this review, we demonstrate that themetabolic syndrome exacerbates oxidized LDL in a feedback loop. We introducemolecular mechanisms underlying this loop. Finally, we demonstrate that weightloss and statin treatment lower metabolic syndrome factors associated with areduction of oxidized LDL. The current data warrant further investigation into therole of lifestyle and therapeutic interventions that inhibit tissue-associatedoxidation of LDL in the prevention of the metabolic syndrome.

Keywords:

• Atherosclerosis
• Inflammation
• Metabolic syndrome
• Obesity
• Oxidative stress
• Oxidized LDL