Nutritional support in the pharmacological treatment of metabolic syndrome

The metabolic syndrome is multifactorial in nature and its incidence is rapidly increasing along with its risk factors. This review discusses nutrition, functional foods, and nutraceuticals most frequently adopted in the co-treatment of the metabolic syndrome. In fact, several foods, functional foods, and nutraceuticals with potential "pharmacological" activities are positioned at the border between pharmacology and nutrition. This double food-nutrition approach would help reduce the use of medicines and concomitantly decrease side effects. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.