Metabolic syndrome (MS), a constellation of metabolic risk factors associated with development of cardiovascular diseases
and type 2 diabetes, has emerged as a public health problem of enormous proportions in developed and developing
countries. We have reported previously its prevalence in several isolated island populations in the Eastern Adriatic coast
of Croatia. In spite of leading a relatively traditional life style pattern including the practice of a typical Mediterranean
diet, the prevalence of MS in these populations is high and comparable to those in developed nations. However, data on
prevalence of the syndrome in mainland Croatia is limited. We have, therefore, conducted a study in an outbred population
comprising of Croats, Hungarians and Serbs from the Baranja region of mainland Croatia. Although this is an ethnically
heterogenous population, the constituent groups exchange mates and therefore, are not reproductively isolated.
The life style patterns are also similar. We observed similar prevalence of MS in these groups. We assessed MS following
the definitions prescribed in the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Cholesterol Education
Program (NCEP). Overall prevalence is considerably high in this cosmopolitan group, by WHO criteria 26% in
males and 38% in females, and by NCEP criteria 84% in males and 71% in females. It is likely that, in addition to genetic
risk factors, a host of environmental factors that include dietary habit and relatively urban life style in a modernized
society influence the levels of the constituent metabolic traits leading to increase prevalence of MS
