Mercury and metabolic syndrome: a review of experimental and clinical observations Alexey A. Tinkov • Olga P. Ajsuvakova • Margarita G. Skalnaya • Elizaveta V. Popova • Anton I. Sinitskii • Olga N. Nemereshina • Evgenia R. Gatiatulina • Alexandr A. Nikonorov • Anatoly V. Skalny Received: 17 November 2014 / Accepted: 15 January 2015 Ó Springer Science+Business Media New York 2015 Abstract A significant interrelation between heavy metal exposure and metabolic syndrome (MetS) development has been demonstrated earlier. Despite the presence of a number of works aimed at the investigation of the role of Hg in MetS development, the existing data remain contradictory. Therefore, the primary objective of the current work is to review the existing data regarding the influence of mercury on universal mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of the development of MetS and its components. The brief chemical characterization of mercury is pro- vided. The role of mercury in induction of oxidative stress has been discussed. In particular, Hg-induced oxidative stress may occur due to both prooxidant action of the metal and decrease in antioxidant enzymes. Despite the absence of direct indications, it can be proposed that mercury may induce endoplas- mic reticulum stress. As it is seen from both in vivo and in vitro studies, mercury is capable of inducing inflammation. The reviewed data demonstrate that mercury affects universal pathogenetic mechanisms of MetS development. Moreover, multiple investigations have indicated the role of mercury in pathogenesis of MetS components: dyslipidemia, hypertension, insu- lin resistance, and obesity to a lesser extent. The present state of data regarding the interrelation A. A. Tinkov (&) Á A. V. Skalny Laboratory of Biotechnology and Applied Bioelementology, Yaroslavl State University, Sovetskaya st., 14, Yaroslavl 150000, Russia e-mail: tinkov.a.a@gmail.com A. A. Tinkov Á E. V. Popova Á O. N. Nemereshina Á E. R. Gatiatulina Á A. A. Nikonorov Department of Biochemistry, Orenburg State Medical Academy, Sovetskaya st., 6, Orenburg 460000, Russia O. P. Ajsuvakova Department of Chemistry, Orenburg State Agrarian University, Chelyuskintsev st., 18, Orenburg 460014, Russia O. P. Ajsuvakova Department of Chemistry and Methods of Chemistry Teaching, Orenburg State Pedagogical University, Sovetskaya st., 19, Orenburg 460014, Russia M. G. Skalnaya Á A. V. Skalny Russian Society of Trace Elements in Medicine, ANO ‘‘Centre for Biotic Medicine’’, Zemlyanoy Val st. 46, Moscow 105064, Russia A. I. Sinitskii Department of Chemistry of the Pharmaceutical Faculty, South Ural State Medical University, Vorovskogo st., 64, Chelyabinsk 453092, Russia A. V. Skalny Institute of Bioelementology (Russian Satellite Centre of Trace Element—Institute for UNESCO), Orenburg State University, Pobedy Ave. 13, Orenburg 460352, Russia 123 Biometals DOI 10.1007/s10534-015-9823-2