INS and metabolic syndrome: Based on previous report22 that high fat diet intake induces metabolic alterations similar to those observed in humans presenting with metabolic syndrome including elevated fasting insulin levels, insulin resistance, and steatosis, we fed adult (3-month-old) and old (18-month-old) C57BL/6 mice a normal chow diet (NCD) and a high fat diet (HFD) for 4 months.