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Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Syndrome

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Nutritional Epidemiology of Breast Cancer

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Abstract

Metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance syndrome, first described by Reaven in 1988 [1] as syndrome X, is characterized by abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia (high triglycerides and low HDL-cholesterol levels), high fasting blood glucose and high blood pressure levels. Several studies [2–16] have suggested a direct association between components of metabolic syndrome and breast cancer (BC) risk. Therefore, low HDL-cholesterol [2], high blood glucose [3], high triglycerides [4], postmenopausal overweight [5], abdominal obesity [6], hypertension [7], high levels of insulin [8], C peptide [9], and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) [10], have all been associated with increased BC risk. Metabolic and hormonal factors related to metabolic syndrome have also been implicated in BC prognosis [11–15]. Furthermore, the increase in BC incidence has occurred in parallel with a steady increase in the frequency of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome [16].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Scientific Methods, IUCLAEH School of Medicine, Convención 1490 dep. 202, 11100, Montevideo, Uruguay

    Alvaro Luis Ronco

  2. School of Medicine Department of Pathology Epidemiology Group, Universidad de la República, Av. Brasil 3080 dep. 402, 11300, Montevideo, Uruguay

    Eduardo De Stéfani

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  1. Alvaro Luis Ronco
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  2. Eduardo De Stéfani
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Correspondence to Alvaro Luis Ronco .

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Ronco, A.L., De Stéfani, E. (2012). Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Syndrome. In: Nutritional Epidemiology of Breast Cancer. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2397-9_9

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