Nutritional Supplements Modulating Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors and the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease

Metabolic syndrome risk factors (MSRF) can lead to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its prevalence is increasing at an alarming rate in the United States and worldwide. Pathways leading directly from visceral adiposity to the genesis of free fatty acids and lipid accumulation are mediators of insulin resistance and hypertension. These conditions lead to a proinflammatory and prothrombotic state that can potentiate cardiovascular disease. Metabolic syndrome risk factors are interrelated and associated with predisposition to diabetes, obesity, hypertension and dyslipidemia and, thus, ultimately can lead to CVD. In this review, the authors focused on seven research-supported nutrients available as dietary supplements that offer potential benefits for people with MSRF. For the past two decades, a number of studies have evaluated the role of nutritional supplementation in the prevention of atherogenic and abnormal glucose risk factors. It is, therefore, important to identify strategies that favorably impact MSRF and disease conditions. This review focuses on nutritional compounds such as policosanol, soy proteins, plant stanols, plant esters and isoflavones, omega-3 fatty acids and chromium. These ingredients can beneficially modulate MSRF and, thus, potentially improve disease risk factors and related sequelae. Although the benefits of dietary supplements in general have not been comprehensively elucidated or established, it seems plausible, given available data, that non-pharmacological compounds exhibit the ability to measurably reduce MSRF and, consequently, provide potential protection against CVD and its associated complications.