Aim To explore the relationship between serum growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) and inflammation, lipid metabolism in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS). Methods A total of 131 patients with MS were recruited as metabolic syndrome group, and 162 healthy people were enrolled as the healthy control group. The levels of serum GDF-15, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Serum GDF-15 levels were significantly higher in subjects with MS than those in the controls (289.74 (187.2,1.56) ng/L vs 159.30 (114.3,5.87) ng/L, P＜0.01), and showed an increasing trend with the increased numbers of metabolic components (P＜0.01). In all studied subjects, serum GDF-15 levels were positively correlated with obesity related parameters (body mass index, waist circumference, fat percentage, P＜0.05), an adverse lipid profile (triglyceride(TG) increased and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC)) decreased, P＜0.05), fasting plasma glucose, insulin resistance index (fasting serum lisulin (FINS)and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance(HOMA-IR)) and inflammatory markers (MCP-1 and IL-6). Age, HDLC, IL-6 were independent factors for GDF-15 levels. After adjusting for potential confounders, GDF-15 remained an independent risk factor for MS and dyslipidemia, and the associated odds ratios were 1.438 (1.3,2.063) and 1.003 (1.0,1.007) respectively (P＝0.018 and P＝0.043). Conclusion The levels of serum GDF-15 were significantly higher in patients with MS, and GDF-15 was closely related to the inflammation and lipid profile, which suggested that GDF-15 may be involved in the pathogenesis of MS and the potential predictive value of cardiovascular disease in the future.