Following the Mediterranean diet reduces the chances of presenting metabolic syndrome

A study published in the journal Nutrients states that Caucasian patients between 35 and 74 years old who follow the Mediterranean diet tend to have fewer problems with overweight, obesity, and are less likely to present metabolic syndrome

Research involving IDIAPJGol researcher Ruth Martí Lluch states that people between 35 and 74 years old who follow the Mediterranean diet in their regular diet have a lower probability of presenting metabolic syndrome, as well as overweight and obesity. This article includes data from 3,417 people in Spain, coming from three different cross-sectional studies.

The results indicate that a high adherence to the Mediterranean diet has a positive impact on the parameters of metabolic syndrome. These results have also been confirmed in analyses separated by sex.

The research team emphasizes the importance of promoting the Mediterranean diet in primary care settings to reduce the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its associated complications. The researchers believe that future research should explore whether these benefits are consistent in other Mediterranean countries and assess the potential for improving cardiovascular health in populations outside the Mediterranean basin.

Variables

The study evaluated adherence to the Mediterranean diet using the MEDAS (Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener) questionnaire, which determines adherence to the Mediterranean diet through 14 questions: 12 on the frequency of food consumption and two on food intake habits. To determine the presence of metabolic syndrome, the five criteria established by the international consensus of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel were followed.

 

Article Reference

Gómez-Sánchez L, Gómez-Sánchez M, Tamayo-Morales O, Lugones-Sánchez C, González-Sánchez S, Martí-Lluch R, Rodríguez-Sánchez E, García-Ortiz L, Gómez-Marcos MA. Relationship between the Mediterranean Diet and Metabolic Syndrome and Each of the Components That Form It in Caucasian Subjects: A Cross-Sectional Trial. Nutrients. 2024 Jun 19;16(12):1948. doi: 10.3390/nu16121948. PMID: 38931300; PMCID: PMC11207079.