Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and risk of metabolic syndrome in Lebanese urban adults -

Abstract

The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) is reaching epidemic proportions in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean region. Preventive strategies aiming at curbing the rise of the MetS are needed given its association with increased disease risk including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The aims of this study were to (1) assess the prevalence of the MetS across gender in a sample of Lebanese adults living in Beirut and (2) investigate the association of the MetS with adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern (MD). This is a cross-sectional study of Lebanese adults aged ≥18 years (n = 501) living in Greater Beirut. Using standardized techniques, anthropometric measurements were taken and biochemical analyses were performed. A comprehensive questionnaire was administered to study participants to inquire about family history, medical history, and sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics. Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Dietary habits were assessed in an interview setting by trained dietitians by means of an 86-item, semi-quantitative, and culture specific food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Adherence to the MD was assessed using 2 different scores: the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) and the Lebanese Mediterranean Diet (LMD). Based on the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) classification criteria, the overall prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 50.2percent in the total sample. According to the NCEP ATP III definition, the overall prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 43.2percent. Among subjects with the MetS, the main contributors to the MetS were elevated waist circumference, followed by elevated fasting blood glucose and low HDL-C. After adjusting for confounding variables (age, gender, and energy intake), findings of the logistic regression analysis showed that a higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet (assessed using the Mediterranean Diet Score and the Lebanese Mediterranean Diet score) was negatively ass