Therapeutic process for the treatment of the metabolic syndrome and associated metabolic disorders

1. A method of treating a patient suffering from a condition selected from the group consisting of metabolic syndrome, obesity, type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, pro-inflammatory state, and pro-coagulative state, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing to said patient suffering from a condition selected from the group consisting of metabolic syndrome, obesity, type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, pro-inflammatory state, and pro-coagulative state a dietary regimen that decreases overactive CNS noradrenergic tone;

wherein said dietary regimen that decreases overactive CNS noradrenergic tone comprises:

1) protein intake of about 25%±5% of total daily caloric intake;

2) monounsaturated fat intake of about 25%±5% of total daily caloric intake;

3) saturated fat intake of about 5%±5% of total daily caloric intake;

4) polyunsaturated fat intake of about 3%±5% of total daily caloric intake;

5) complex carbohydrate intake of about 42%±7% of total daily caloric intake; and

6) total caloric intake set at 15-25% less than the said patient's daily energy expenditure; followed by

(b) providing to said patient a dietary regimen that increases dopaminergic tone while maintaining said decreased overactive CNS noradrenergic tone;

wherein said dietary regimen that increases dopaminergic tone while maintaining said decreased overactive CNS noradrenergic tone comprises:

1) protein intake of about 24%±5% of total daily caloric intake;

2) monounsaturated fat intake of about 23%±5% of total daily caloric intake;

3) saturated fat intake of about 5%±5% of total daily caloric intake;

4) polyunsaturated fat intake of about 3%±5% of total daily caloric intake;

5) complex carbohydrate intake of about 45%±7% of total daily caloric intake;

6) total caloric intake set at 0-25% less than said patient's daily energy expenditure; and

7) L-DOPA-containing foods in an amount sufficient to ingest about 20-400 mg of L-DOPA per day; and

wherein said polyunsaturated fat intake in each of steps (a) and (b) individually comprise a ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids from between about 0.25:1 to about 2:1; and

wherein said providing step (a) continues for approximately 4 to 12 weeks; and wherein said providing step (b) continues for approximately 4 to 6 months.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said L-DOPA-containing foods are present in an amount sufficient to ingest about 20-150 mg of L-DOPA per day.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said L-DOPA-containing foods are ingested throughout the day to effectuate a day-long rise in circulating L-DOPA levels.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein in each of said dietary regimen steps (a) and (b), simple sugars and/or high glycemic index carbohydrates are not provided concurrently with fats at a weight ratio greater than 1 carbohydrate to 4 saturated fat.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of establishing a baseline of metabolic activity in said patient by measuring the amounts of neuroendocrine compounds in said patient's blood prior to said providing steps.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said neuroendocrine compounds are selected from the group consisting of plasma norepinephrine, insulin, dopamine, cortisol, morning urination melatonin, plasma serotonin, and combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein said providing step (b) is implemented when plasma norepinephrine, and/or insulin levels are reduced by at least 20% relative to the levels established in said establishing step.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (b) is performed when said overactive CNS noradrenergic tone is decreased by at least 20%.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of administering between 50 and 2000 mg of a serotonin precursor to said patient before bedtime.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said serotonin precursor is selected from the group consisting of L-tryptophan, L-5-hydroxytryptophan, and combinations thereof.