Metabolic syndrome and gender. Is it the same disease among women and men?

Abstract

Gender differences in susceptibility to complex diseases represent one of the hallmarks of nowadays medicine. In recent years the metabolic syndrome has been more prevalent in men than in women. Prevalence is increasing and this increase has been steeper in women, particularly in young women during the last decade. This paper will review evidence that the contributions of the different components of the metabolic syndrome differ between genders. The presently available data suggest that gender differences in the metabolic syndrome might be of potential revelance for its prevention, diagnostics and therapy.