The present invention is directed to pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment that relate to the inhibition, resolution and/or prevention of an array of the manifestations of metabolic syndromes, including Type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, weight gain, obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, atherosclerosis, fatty liver diseases and certain chronic inflammatory states that lead to these manifestations, among others. In additional aspects, the present invention relates to compositions and methods which may be used to treat, inhibit or reduce the likelihood of hepatitis viral infections, including Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C viral infections, as well as the secondary disease states and/or conditions which are often associated with such viral infections, including hepatic steatosis (steatohepatitis), cirrhosis, fatty liver and hepatocellular cancer, among other disease states or conditions.本発明は、特に、２型糖尿病、高脂血症、体重増加、肥満、インシュリン耐性、高血圧、アテローム性動脈硬化、脂肪肝疾患、及びこれらの症状に至る特定の慢性炎症状態などのメタボリックシンドロームの一連の症状の抑制、解消及び／又は予防に関する医薬組成物並びに治療法に関する。更なる態様においては、本発明は、肝炎ウイルス感染（Ｂ型肝炎ウイルス感染及びＣ型肝炎ウイルス感染など）並びにそのようなウイルス感染に多く伴う二次的な病態及び／又は状態（病態又は状態の中でも特に、肝臓脂肪症（脂肪性肝炎）、肝硬変、脂肪肝及び肝細胞癌など）の治療、抑制又はその可能性を低減するために用いられる組成物及び方法に関する。
