Objectives.  To study the association between subcutaneous fat cell lipogenesis and components of the metabolic syndrome (systemic insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and hypertension).

Design and setting.  A university hospital‐based cross‐sectional study of 383 subjects (303 women and 80 men) with a wide range of BMI (18–53 kg m⁻²).

Results.  Strong negative correlations between in vitro fat cell lipogenesis (basal and after maximal insulin stimulation) and HOMA‐IR were present in both genders (r = −0.42 to −0.56, P < 0.0001 and r = −0.37 to −0.44, P < 0.001, for women and men respectively). Insulin sensitivity measured using the insulin tolerance test (K_ITT) was also correlated with adipocyte lipogenesis (r = 0.47–0.57, P < 0.0001, women, r = 0.52–0.70, P < 0.001, men). Plasma apolipoprotein B/AI‐ratio negatively associated with fat cell lipogenesis in women (r = −0.41 to−0.51, P < 0.0001,) and men (r = −0.49 to −0.55, P < 0.0001). The negative relationship of fat cell lipogenesis with blood pressure was significant in women (r = −0.27 to −0.28, P < 0.0002,) but not in men (P = 0.08–0.09). All correlations remained significant after adjusting for differences in fat cell volume, body mass index, waist‐ to hip‐ ratio or age (P < 0.01).

Conclusions.  Subcutaneous adipocyte lipogenesis is negatively associated with systemic insulin resistance, plasma apolipoprotein B/AI‐ratio and blood pressure supporting the view that impaired fat cell function per se may contribute to the development of the metabolic syndrome.