SYNDROME X – AN ESCALATING PROBLEM
From a Series on Insulin Resistance and its
Links to Serious Health Conditions
By
Dr. Mary Shackelton, MPH, ND
Medical Director - Insulite Laboratories
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Syndrome X, also known as Metabolic Syndrome, is a collection of risk factors
that substantially increase your chances of developing coronary artery disease.
The American Heart Association estimates that 20-25% of the adult population in
the U.S. suffer from the disorder – between 58 and 73 million people.1 Many are
unaware they have this condition. Syndrome X is characterized by having at least three of the following symptoms:
Insulin acts as a "key in the lock", allowing glucose to pass through the cell wall and be converted to energy. Insulin Resistance causes glucose to bounce off the cell wall instead of passing through the insulin "door". Free-floating glucose remains in the blood stream, causing elevated levels of blood sugar, which are sent to the liver. Once there, the sugar is converted into fat and stored via the blood stream throughout the body. This process can lead to weight gain and obesity, underlying causes of Syndrome X. The imbalance of glucose and insulin also results in a greater risk of developing Cardiovascular Disease because of an increase in the levels of triglycerides, which are fat-storing substances carried through the blood stream to the tissues. Increased levels of insulin and glucose in Syndrome X sufferers have been proven to cause damage to the lining of the arteries, changes in the kidneys’ ability to remove salt and a greater risk of blood clot formation, all of which are key factors in developing Cardiovascular Disease, heart attacks and stroke. If you suffer from Insulin Resistance, you are more likely to develop Syndrome X. The American Heart Association states that the “underlying causes of Syndrome X are being overweight, physical inactivity and genetic factors.” In my clinical practice, I’d seen an ever-increasing number of patients struggling with weight issues. As a consequence, I became curious about what had triggered the growing epidemic of obesity in this country. After attending a conference where the subject of Insulin Resistance was introduced, I became convinced that this condition was one of the underlying causes of the obesity crisis. My research in this area led to me developing the Insulite System to reverse Insulin Resistance. There is a growing body of evidence that points to the body’s inability to process insulin as a leading cause of obesity. If obesity is one of the underlying factors of Syndrome X and Insulin Resistance is a root cause of obesity, it is logical that addressing Insulin Resistance is central to treating Syndrome X. As your weight increases, the stressors on the entire cardiovascular system increase. For example, the workload on the heart increases to distribute oxygenated blood throughout the body. In addition, changes in blood lipids (increases in triglycerides and decreases in HDL “good” cholesterol) encourage the buildup of plaque on the inside of artery walls and raise the risk of stroke and heart attack. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 20% of American adults have Syndrome X2. And in a Louisiana State University study3, researchers found those who suffer from Syndrome X are at a significantly greater risk of dying from a heart attack than those without the condition. The study, conducted over a 15-year period, found that men who had the disorder were from 2.9 to 4.2 times more likely to die of a heart attack. When beginning my research into Insulin Resistance, I found very little information was available, either to doctors or patients. That situation has changed over the years, though I realized early on that a complete system was needed to address all the elements of Insulin Resistance. No one, however, was developing such a system. A study by Duke Medical Center4 found that people with Syndrome X who made lifestyle modifications by exercising and losing weight, had a 47% reduction in insulin overproduction, also known as hyperinsulinemia and caused by Insulin Resistance. Those who exercised but didn’t lose weight saw a 27% reduction. I therefore felt that a change in diet alone was not going to reverse Insulin Resistance, nor would just a change in exercise habits. A multi-layered approach would be needed to correct this condition and I developed the Insulite System as a direct response to my research. Another important fact to emerge from the Duke Medical Center study was expressed by the study’s lead author, Lana Watkins. She wrote: “A non-pharmacologic treatment for these patients is needed, since drugs prescribed to lower blood pressure have been shown to actually worsen carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in Syndrome X patients, negating the beneficial effects of those drugs.”5 Rather than concentrate on formulating a plan strictly for weight loss, I developed an overall, systematic approach to correcting the health disorders of Syndrome X. It was clear to me that a careful balance of treatment options, including non-pharmacologic ingredients as recommended in the Duke Medical Center study, would have to be developed for the Insulite System. It is critical to understand that controlling Syndrome X cannot be accomplished by simply taking a pill every day. The way to approach treating this condition is in a systematic manner. I have developed a combination of formulas that safely and effectively change your body’s chemistry, together with a realistic and sensible exercise program, a support network and a nutritional plan that will help prevent, heal and reverse Insulin Resistance. The Insulite PCOS System uses only pure nutraceuticals (disease-specific vitamins, minerals and herbs), which are effective in bringing about substantial metabolic change. The exercise and nutrition plans take a common-sense approach. Also included in the System is a component of outreach that provides information and support to participants. Research continues to show that support is an important psychological tool in achieving lifestyle changes. It is vitally important for you to immediately address the health risks associated with Syndrome X and Insulin Resistance, not only in the context of improving the quality of your life but also because these conditions are now known to foreshadow the development of strokes and Diabetes. Researchers have long known that having Diabetes increases your risk of having a stroke. Now, a new study by Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia has found that Syndrome X also appears to be a high risk factor for stroke, even in people who don’t yet have Diabetes. The study found that men with Syndrome X had a 78% greater chance of having a stroke than those free of the condition, while women had a 50% greater risk6. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States7. The good news is that Syndrome X can be controlled, if not entirely reversed. But people don’t change overnight. A sedentary lifestyle, poor food choices and an ever-increasing amount of stress in our lives have all contributed to an explosion of health conditions such as Syndrome X and Insulin Resistance. I don’t recommend fad diets, strenuous exercise regimens or stimulants – research indicates that those so-called solutions will eventually fail. Gradual weight loss has been shown to lead to permanent weight loss and overall changes of unhealthy habits. A slow, steady and realistic plan is what will allow you to achieve your goals. Please, begin today to address these conditions. Your health matters. Put yourself back on the path to optimum health. |
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Dr. Shackelton received her Masters in Public Health (MPH) from San Diego State University and her Naturopathic Doctorate (ND) from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, Arizona. She additionally completed a program from the Institute of Women’s Health and Integrative Medicine in Portland, Oregon. Her work in the field of public health laid a foundation for thinking in terms of improving the health of large sections of the population. Her practice as a Naturopathic Doctor has allowed her to focus one-on-one in a clinical setting on women's and children's health where she has successfully worked with many of her patients' Insulin Resistance and weight conditions. In 1998, Dr. Shackelton was a team doctor for the First Disabled Ascent of Mt. Everest. She conducted research at Everest Base Camp on the effects of herbs and homeopathic medicines on high altitude acute mountain sickness and published the study results in The Journal of Complementary Therapies. | ||
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References: 1American Heart Association: http://www.americanheart.org. Figures based on U.S. Census estimates of population in 2004. | ||