Peripheral neuropathy is a chronic disease that causes significant morbidity and affects an individual’s quality of life by causing pain and gait disturbance. Diabetes is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy. However, in many patients with peripheral neuropathy no cause is discovered. There are many evidence suggesting that the components of metabolic syndrome such as obesity, dyslipidemia, and impaired glucose tolerance are associated with the development of peripheral neuropathy. Insulin resistance, the core pathophysiology of metabolic syndrome, is considered a culprit in development of neuropathy in metabolic syndrome. Insulin resistance may decrease insulin signaling and cause mitochondrial dysfunction in the peripheral nervous system. The markers of peripheral nerve function as well as the component of metabolic syndrome were improved after lifestyle intervention in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and neuropathy. These findings suggest that improving the components of metabolic syndrome may have positive effects on recovery of the peripheral nerve function.

Keywords: Metabolic syndrome, Peripheral neuropathy

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