Mediterranean-style diet decreases incident metabolic syndrome

A Mediterranean-style dietary pattern decreases risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease. The aim of the study was to examine the longitudinal association between the Mediterranean-style dietary pattern score (MSDPS) and metabolic syndrome traits among 2730 participants of the Framingham Heart Study Offspring Cohort without type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome incidence in 1918 participants free of this condition at baseline. After adjusting for several confounding risk factors, a higher MSDPS was found to be associated with lower homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance, waist circumference, fasting plasma glucose, and triglycerides, and higher HDL cholesterol. Compared to participants in the lowest quintile category of MSDPS, those in the highest category had a lower incidence of metabolic syndrome by NCEP ATP III criteria. In conclusion, consumption of a diet in accordance with the principles of the Mediterranean-style diet seemed to protect against incident metabolic syndrome in the studied patient population.

Abstract

Keywords:
Diet – HDL cholesterol – HOMA – Insulin resistance – NCEP ATP III definition – Plasma glucose – Triglycerides – Waist circumference