Objective: The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a common and important public health problem. High resistin levels may be associated with MetS, and practices to reduce resistin levels may be effective in the treatment of MetS. The current study was aimed to compare the effects of different treatment methods applied in metabolic syndrome on resistin and biochemical parameters.

Materials and Methods: A total of 60 rats weighing 250±20 grams were divided into 6 groups. Group 1 (n=10, control group), Group 2 (n=10, MetS group), Group 3 (n=10, MetS+ quercetin treatment), Group 4 (n=10, MetS+ Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) treatment), Group 5 (n=10, MetS+ quercetin + ALA treatment), Group 6 (n=10, MetS+ Tiazolidindion (TZD) treatment). The experiment was terminated at the end of 55 days and blood samples were taken from all rats.

Results: Serum resistin levels increased significantly in rats with MetS (p<0.001) and decreased in quercetin (p<0.001), ALA (p<0.001) quercetin + ALA (p<0.001) and TZD (p<0.001) groups. Serum glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR values were lower in treated groups than in MetS group. Quercetin and quercetin+ALA treatments had a much more positive effect on lipid and uric acid levels compared to the treatment with TZD.

Conclusions: Resistin level increased in rats with metabolic syndrome. All of the different treatment methods applied were found to be associated with a decrease in resistin levels and improvement in biochemical parameters. We believe that reduction in resistin levels and success in the management of MetS can be achieved with the treatment agents used in our study.