Chronic, low-level inflammation may be an independent marker of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS).
Systemic Enzyme Therapy (SET), the oral administration of proteolytic enzymes, is safe and effective
in the management of inflammation. Therefore, the effects of SET, as Wobenzym®, on the prevention
and treatment of inflammation and other metabolic risk factors were assessed in a rabbit
model of diet-induced MetS. Animals were fed a lipid-enriched diet for 8 weeks during which they
were administered a vehicle control (control group) or Wobenzym either throughout the study
period (prevention group) or beginning at the 5th week, after the development of biomarkers of
MetS (treatment group). At the 8th week, both prevention and treatment groups demonstrated
improved insulin sensitivity relative to the control group and reduced serum C-reactive protein
(CRP) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c, P < 0.001). At 8 weeks, the prevention group, but not
the treatment group, exhibited reduced total cholesterol and oxidative stress, measured as serum
malondialdehyde (P < 0.001). Triglycerides and free fatty acids were reduced in both the treatment
(P < 0.01) and prevention groups (P < 0.001) relative to the control group at the 8th week.
Body weight and blood glucose were not affected. Enzyme therapy may have a positive effect on
inflammation, insulin sensitivity, and other metabolic risk factors of MetS.