T he metabolic syndrome is defined as a constellation of impaired glucose metabolism, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and central obesity, and may lead to type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. Because nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is closely associated with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, this disease may represent the hepatic component of metabolic syndrome. Among the conditions grouped within metabolic syndrome, hyperinsulinemia results in the elevated lipogenesis of fatty acids and triglycerides (TGs) in the liver. In the regulation of lipogenesis, the nuclear hormone receptor liver X receptor-alpha (LXR␣)