The aim of the present grant project is therefore to assess in a large cross-sectional study the prevalence of oxidative stress markers, and fatty acids and to find any causal relation between these variables and metabolic syndrome. This population sample will be followed prospectively to study metabolic variables with relation to the development of oxidative stress-mediated diseases, in particular those of cardiovascular system, on a longitudinal basis (prospective epidemiological study for at least 10 years). At same time we should be able to define the importance of individual markers of oxidative stress and fatty acids for early detection of these diseases.