The Vasopressin System in Metabolic Syndrome and Insulin Resistance – a Mini-Review

Metabolic syndrome (MetS), type 2 diabetes, and consequent cardiovascular complications are serious healthcare problems worldwide [1,2]. The prevalence of MetS or its components around the world is variable in different ethnic populations [3,4], and this can be explained by interactions between susceptibility genes specifically expressed in certain ethnic groups and environmental factors [5]. Nonetheless, the number of people aff ected by these conditions is continuously increasing at a global level [4,6] and along with it the mortality and morbidity of populations [7,8]. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the main cause of mortality in people suffering from MetS and/or diabetes [9]. The research in this field is ongoing, in the attempt to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms and pathways involved in MetS, and to find reliable biomarkers for diagnosis and disease prognosis, as well as therapeutic targets. […]