COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE FOR METABOLIC SYNDROME.

People with metabolic syndrome (MetS) are at high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease and other complications such as stroke, peripheral vascular disease and type II diabetes mellitus. MetS is also known as insulin resistance syndrome due to the fact that insulin action is reduced. The major risk factors for this syndrome are thought to be abdominal obesity and insulin resistance. Other factors which are associated with MetS are physical inactivity, ageing, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and genetic predisposition. Family physicians have an important role in managing the chronic disease of MetS. The objective of this paper is to provide a narrative review of the current evidence on using complementary and alternative medicine to treat MetS. The recommendations and findings are also reviewed. Reference Lim CED, Cheng NCL, Chow YKM, Wong WSF, O'Sullivan AJ. Current evidence of complementary and alternative medicine treatment for metabolic syndrome. Journal of the Australian Traditional-Medicine Society 2010;16(4):209-214. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]