Abstract: AIM: To establish and evaluate a rat model of metabolic syndrome induced by high fat and salt diet.METHODS: Wistar rats, aged 3 weeks, which were divided into three groups in randomized manner: control with normal salt diet (0.5% NaCl, NS),high salt diet(4% NaCl,HS),fat and salt-enriched diet(49%fat+4%NaCl,FS), 12 rats in each group for 18 weeks.Then the bodyweights were measured. The right carotid artery was cannulated for direct blood pressure measurement. Insulin was measured in plasma sample by enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay(ELISA). Other remaining plasma samples were obtained for total cholesterol concentra tion(TC),triglyceride (TG),low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C),high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C),blood glucose(GLU).RESULTS: Compared with the NS and HS group, the body weight, blood pressure, insulin resistence index and triglycerol levels were all significantly increased in the FS group. But there was no significant difference between the NS and HS group.CONCLUSION: The fat and salt-enriched diet given to the rats can induce a metabolic syndrome,which corresponds or is analogous to the clinical metabolic syndrome.

Key words: Metabolic syndrome, Salt, Fat, Animal model, Rat