Metabolic syndrome has been characterized as a condition resulting from the presence of three of five identifiable risk factors: 1) hyperglycemia, blood glucose ≥ 100 mg/dl; 2) elevated triglyceride levels, ≥ 150 mg/dl; 3) high blood pressure, ≥ 130/85 mmHg; 4) low HDL cholesterol level, <50mg/dl for women and <40 mg/dl women; and 5) abdominal obesity, waist circumference ≥ 35 in.for women and ≥40 in.for men.It increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes and is linked to overweight and obesity.Controvcrsy exists regarding the appropriate defining characteristics of metabolic syndrome.In addition, a variety of mechanisms have been proposed as causative of metabolic syndrome with physiological, molecular and cellular mechanisms proposed.Potential mechanisms responsible for the defining characteristics of metabolic syndrome, populations affected by metabolic syndrome and recent advancements in applied therapies and recommendations will be explored and discussed.