IL6 and metabolic syndrome: Previous studies on intermediate outcomes (but not clinical events) have demonstrated favorable effects of adherence to MED intake on cardiometabolic biomarkers including metabolic syndrome,34 improved insulin resistance,35 lower hsCRP and interleukin-6,36 and glucose metabolism.37 The PREDIMED trial showed that clinical CVD events may be reduced by approximately 30%,3 but the underlying mechanisms related to the protective association of MED intake with CVD is not well defined.