Importance and Management of Dyslipidemia in the Metabolic Syndrome

The metabolic syndrome is a common disorder characterized by central obesity, impaired glucose tolerance, hypertension, and atherogenic dyslipidemia (including the combination of hypertriglyceridemia, low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and a preponderance of small, dense low-density lipoprotein particles). In this manuscript, we review the pathogenesis and significance of dyslipidemia in the metabolic syndrome, the role of nonpharmacologic therapy with therapeutic lifestyle changes, and drug therapies, including statins, fibrates, nicotinic acid, and omega-3 fatty acids or fish oils, alone or in drug combinations, to improve lipids and reduce the chance of subsequent cardiovascular disease events.