Methods for the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of metabolic syndrome

[0082] In order to establish the genetic linkage or connection between the desired polymorphism and the metabolic syndrome gene, it is preferable to analyze a set of familial relatives of the subject under investigation. The set is chosen so that it will allow determination of whether the metabolic syndrome phenotype is linked to the presence of the polymorphism. Thus, preferably, several individuals are examined. These may include an unaffected parent, an affected parent, an affected sibling, an unaffected sibling, as well as other, perhaps more distant, members. Ideally, an unaffected parent, an affected parent and an affected sibling should be utilized. If an affected parent is deceased, satisfactory results can still be obtained if unambiguous segregation of the polymorphism with the metabolic syndrome gene can be demonstrated in other members.

[0083] In one preferred embodiment one would look at multiple markers associated with susceptibility to metabolic syndrome. Thus, we rec...