Research
Hormonal
Insulin resistance is the essential common denominator of metabolic syndrome, driven by intracellular lipid accumulation (FFA, diacylglycerol) which interferes with insulin signaling pathways (IRS-1 phosphorylation).
Improving insulin sensitivity through exercise and diet can break the cycle of metabolic syndrome. Exercise stimulates skeletal muscle oxidative enzymes and mitochondrial biogenesis, directly counteracting the insulin resistance caused by intracellular lipid accumulation.
StrongSupportsHIGH confidence
Thus, insulin resistance is viewed as the essential common denominator of metabolic syndrome, regardless of cause... Elevated cytoplasmic FA content leads to hepatic insulin resistance. This process involves competition of FA and glucose for access to mitochondrial oxidative metabolism.
Why this rating
Supported by multiple mechanistic studies and transgenic models cited in the review.
Source
Obesity-Initiated Metabolic Syndrome and the Kidney
Susan P. Bagby · Journal of the American Society of Nephrology · 2004
DOI 10.1097/01.asn.0000141965.28037.ee
narrative_reviewCited 258×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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