Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet Inversely Associated with Risk of Metabolic Syndrome

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Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet Inversely Associated with Risk of

Metabolic Syndrome

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Reference: " Mediterranean diet inversely associated with the incidence

of metabolic syndrome: the SUN prospective cohort, " Tortosa A,

Bes-Rastrollo M, et al, Diabetes Care, 2007; 30(11): 2957-9. (Address:

A. ez-, Preventive Medicine and Public Health,

Facultad de Medicina, Irunlarrea 1, 31080 Pamplona, Spain. E-mail:

mamartinez@... ).

Summary: In a prospective study involving data collected from 2,563

Spanish university graduates (free of metabolic syndrome at baseline),

adherence to a Mediterranean food pattern (MFP - a diet characterized by

a high consumption of fruit, vegetables, legumes, grains, fish, moderate

alcohol intake, a moderate-to-low consumption of dairy products and

meats/meat products, and a high monounsaturated-to-saturated fat ratio)

was found to be significantly inversely associated with incidence of the

metabolic syndrome (defined according to the International Diabetes

Federation criteria). Subjects were followed up for six years. Data was

collected at baseline via self-administered questionnaires mailed to

subjects that included a validated food-frequency questionnaire, and

biennial follow-up questionnaires were completed as well. The

association between baseline adherence to the MFP and the cumulative

incidence of metabolic syndrome during follow-up was assessed using

non-conditional logis tic regression analysis, adjusted for age, sex,

smoking, physical activity, and total energy intake. Results showed that

women, older subjects, ex-smokers, and more physically active subjects

had a greater adherence to the MFP. After 6 years of follow up, subjects

whose baseline adherence to the MFP was greater were found to have lower

levels of all risk factors of the metabolic syndrome, except plasma

glucose. Subjects with greater adherence to the MFP had higher HDL and

lower waist circumference. A lower cumulative incidence of the metabolic

syndrome was found among subjects with the highest adherence to the MFP,

as compared to those with the lowest adherence. The authors point out

one of the strengths of their study, " The prospective design of our

study implies that information about risk factors for the metabolic

syndrome, food habits, and lifestyles was collected before the diagnosis

of the disease, thus avoiding a reverse causation bias. " They conclude,

" This is t he first prospective cohort study that has evidenced an

inverse relationship between adherence to an MFP and the cumulative

incidence of the metabolic syndrome. "

--

ne Holden, MS, RD

" Ask the Parkinson Dietitian " http://www.parkinson.org/

" Eat well, stay well with Parkinson's disease "

" Parkinson's disease: Guidelines for Medical Nutrition Therapy "

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