Nutraceuticals in Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes

Metabolic syndrome and diabetes are common, growing diseases posing a threat to public health. It is important to diminute incidance of both diseases. Even though there are pharmaceutical agents for the treatment, preventive solutions do not exist. Additionally, it is proved that the most effective approach for the treatment is the lifestyle change: the regulation of diet and exercise. Nutraceuticals, as being functional foods for the prevention and treatment, preserve a broad sprectrum to ameliorate metabolic syndrome and diabetes. In this chapter, metabolic syndrome and diabetes viewed from the perspective of nutraceuticals: i) metabolic syndrome and diabetes were described with complications; ii) connection between oxidative stress and diabetes examined; iii) phytochemicals had been described and classified with food sources and iv) research studies in the literature discussed in relation to molecular mechanisms/clinical effects on diabetes.