Background: Whether the adverse effects of glucocorticoids on left ventricular (LV) function are exacerbated by the consumption of a high-fructose diet, as a model of metabolic syndrome (MetS), is uncertain. This study aimed to determine whether the presence of MetS exacerbates glucocorticoid-induced changes in LV function. Methods: Sprague Dawley rats were divided into control, glucocorticoid (GC), high-fructose (HF), and glucocorticoid+high-fructose (GC+HF) groups. HF and GC+HF rats received 20% fructose solution in drinking water and GC and GC+HF rats received 10mg/kg intraperitoneal injections of methylprednisolone daily for 10 weeks. After 10 weeks, echocardiography was used to assess LV function and cardiac collagen content was determined by picrosirius-red staining. Results: Relative wall thickness (RWT) was increased in GC compared to control rats (p=0.001). Heart weights and LV weights indexed to body mass and RWT were increased in GC+HF compared to control rats (p=0.04, p=0.009, and p=0.03 respectively). Lateral e’ was reduced in GC and GC+HF rats compared to control (p=0.001 and p=0.005 respectively) and HF (p<0001 and p=0.0001) rats. E/e’ was increased in GC and GC+HF rats compared to control (p<0.0001 and p=0.004 respectively) and HF (p<0.0001 and p=0.02 respectively) rats. Cardiac collagen content was increased in GC and GC+HF rats compared to control rats (p=0.001 and p<0.0001 respectively). Conclusion: Administration of glucocorticoids caused concentric remodelling and impaired diastolic function by reducing LV relaxation and increasing filling pressures. The administration of glucocorticoids in a model of MetS caused concentric hypertrophy. However, the MetS did not exacerbate the diastolic dysfunction induced by the administration of glucocorticoids.