Potential causal agents in visceral obesity and the metabolic syndrome. The most dramatic form of obesity is characterized by excess visceral adipose tissue, which has been shown to be related to progression of symptoms of metabolic syndrome [11]. Among the symptoms of this syndrome is insulin resistance, which appears to be associated with increases in concentrations of inflammation markers in blood. Morphologically in lipid engorged adipocytes, the nucleus and the lipid synthetic apparatus of cells is marginalized and may negatively affect further fat synthesis leading to hyperglycemia or hypercholesterolemia which is commonly observed in individuals with metabolic syndrome. Individual regulatory agents shown have been recently described [12]. DM: diabetes mellitus; FFA: free fatty acid; MCP-1: monocyte chemo attractant protein-1; TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor alpha; IL-6: interleukin 6.
