Abstract
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of metabolic disorders, including abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension and impaired fasting glucose, which contributes to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome is complex, and the precise mechanisms have not been elucidated, dietary lipids have been recognized as contributory factors in the development and prevention of cardiovascular risk clustering. This study explored the physiological functions and molecular actions of functional lipids, such as n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, conjugated fatty acids, sterols, and phospholipids, in the development of metabolic syndrome. Dietary functional lipids suppressed the accumulation of abdominal adipose tissue and lipids in the liver and serum, and alleviated hypertension and type 2 diabetes through transcriptional regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism. In particular, the role of functional lipids as dietary adiponectin inducers (dietary insulin sensitizers) deserves attention as a means of alleviating metabolic syndrome by dietary manipulation.
