[Dyslipoproteinemia and diabetes mellitus in a metabolic syndrome].
AIMS: Presentation of important aspects of the metabolic syndrome, taking diabetes mellitus and the metabolic status in advanced age as an example. MAIN TOPICS: The metabolic syndrome represents a combination of diabetes mellitus, dyslipoproteinemia, adiposity, hypertension, and hyperuricemia, together with the sequelae of atherosclerosis, fatty liver and gallstones. In industrialized countries it is considered the most common metabolic sequela of affluence. Owing to the complexity of the disorders presenting, treatment must not be limited to normalization of glucose metabolism. In addition to dietetic and physiotherapeutic measures and anti-diabetic agents, treatment with lipid-lowering agents is also necessary. Since a main feature of disordered lipid metabolism, is hypertriglyceridemia, fibrates in particular are indicated. These lower not only the triglycerides, but also elevated fibrinogen levels, and, in the case of fenofibrate, uric acid levels. Glucose tolerance remains unaffected.