INSULIN-RESISTANCE AND ATHEROSCLEROSIS

In this review, we make an effort to evaluate the relationship between insulin resistance and atherosclerosis in nondiabetic individuals. Th e major goal of this article is to review the risk factors for coronar y heart disease (CHD) that occur,vith increased frequency in insulin-r esistant individuals and to provide potential pathophysiological expla nations for these relationships. A second and related goal is to disco urage efforts to decide which of these related abnormalities is ''resp onsible'' for the increased risk of CHD, white at the same time provid ing evidence that the cluster of abnormalities associated,vith insulin resistance should be added to the list of ''traditional'' factors tha t increase risk of CHD.