Fructose intake and risk of metabolic syndrome in Lebanese adults : a cross sectional study

Abstract

The parallelism between the increase in the consumption of fructose and the rise in obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) over the past 20 years, proposed excessive fructose intake as one of the potential causes for metabolic abnormalities. The evidence, however, remains inconclusive. The objectives of this study were to (1) assess dietary intake of fructose in a sample of Lebanese urban adults and (2) investigate the association of total, added and natural fructose intakes with MetS and its components. This cross-sectional population-based study was conducted on 283 participants  18 years old with no prior history of chronic disease,. Using standardized techniques, anthropometric and biochemical data were collected. Dietary intake was assessed by trained dietitians using a culture-specific 82 item semi quantitate FFQ. Natural fructose intake ( g-day) from fruits and vegetables was determined using NutriPro software. Added fructose intake was estimated to be 50percent of added sugars in food products. Total dietary fructose intake was calculated by summing up natural and added fructose intakes. Mean intake of total dietary fructose was 51.42 ± 35.54 g-day, which represents 6.58 ± 3.71 percent of the total energy intakes. Natural and added fructose intakes were estimated at 12.29 ± 8.57 and 39.12 ± 34.10 g-day (1.78 ± 1.41percent and 4.80 ± 3.56percent), respectively. Compared with those in the lowest quartile of fructose intakes, participants in the highest quartile of total and added fructose intake, had respectively 2.450 (95percent CI 1.047- 5.734) and 2.609 (95percent CI 1.081- 6.298) higher risk of MetS, after adjustment for confounding variables. In contrast, natural fructose intake was not associated with MetS in the study sample. When examining each abnormality alone (hypertension, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia), no significant association was found with fructose intake, even after adjustment for potential confounders. A high fructose consumption was observed among Lebanese urban adults. The o