Metabolic syndrome, endothelial function and lifestyle modification.

We evaluated (1) endothelial function (FMD, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1) cross-sectionally in subjects with (MS+) and without (MS-) metabolic syndrome who were at increased risk for cardiovascular disease due to either HNBP and/or IGR, and (2) examined in a subgroup of subjects the effects of 24-week lifestyle modification on endothelial function. MS components, FMD by Doppler ultrasound, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 by fasting blood samples were assessed. All of the endothelial functions were similar between MS- and MS+. Although waist circumference, blood pressure, and fasting glucose showed improvements, endothelial function remained unchanged following the intervention. The results showed that in our subject population, MS does not reduce endothelial function, and our 24-week lifestyle modification programme did not result in an improvement in endothelial function in MS+ despite the improvements in some MS components.