In this cohort of the Spanish adult population at risk of developing MS, we found that serum VEGFb levels were inversely associated with the risk of incident MS and abdominal obesity diagnosed by ATP-III, after 7.5 years of follow-up, independently of different risk factors for MS such as age, gender, fasting glucose level, waist circumference, plasma lipids, hypertension, inflammatory state or physical activity. The gene discussed is VEGFB; the disease is Hypertension.