Associations between fish intake and the metabolic syndrome and its components among middle-aged men and women: the Hordaland Health Study

Therese Karlsson,Hanne Rosendahl-Riise,Jutta Dierkes,Christian A Drevon,Grethe S Tell,Ottar Nygård

doi:10.1080/16546628.2017.1347479

Therese Karlsson, Hanne Rosendahl-Riise + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1080/16546628.2017.1347479

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Abstract

ABSTRACTIn epidemiologic studies, the relationship between fish consumption and the metabolic syndrome (MetS) have been inconclusive and sex differences reported. The aim was to investigate associations between fish intake and the MetS in a cross-sectional study of men and women. Fish intake, waist circumference, triglycerides (TG), HDL-C, glucose and blood pressure were assessed among 2874 men and women (46–49 y) in the Hordaland Health Study (1997–1999). Fatty fish intake was inversely associated with TG in men only; mean difference in TG between highest and lowest quartile of fatty fish intake was –0.33 mmol/L (95% CI: –0.51, –0.15). Lean fish intake was inversely associated with TG in women only; mean difference in TG between highest and lowest quartile of lean fish intake was –0.23 mmol/L (95% CI: –0.34, –0.11). Fatty fish intake was positively associated with serum HDL-C in both men and women. Total fish intake was inversely associated with MetS; adjusted OR 0.75 (95% CI 0.57, 0.97). Higher fish intake was associated with lower odds of having MetS possibly driven by associations of higher fish intake with lower TG and higher HDL-C. The findings of differential associations by sex needs to be confirmed and possible biologic mechanisms explored.

Highlights

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of risk factors related to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus
But all tend to agree on the inclusion of abdominal obesity (elevated waist circumference (WC)), hyperglycemia, elevated triglycerides (TG), low levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and hypertension [1]
Mean concentrations of TG, total cholesterol, C-reactive protein (CRP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were higher in men compared with

Summary

Introduction

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of risk factors related to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The prevalence of MetS is dependent on definition used and population studied. Prevalence estimates differ across sex, age, and ethnicity, as well as lifestyle habits and socioeconomic status [1]. In a population-based survey in Norway, the estimated prevalence of MetS in 1995–1997 was 27.6 and 21.8% in men and women (40–49 years), respectively [2]. The prevalence of the different MetS components was, except for central obesity, higher in men than women [2]. A healthy lifestyle, including diet and physical activity, is important for preventing and treating components of MetS [1]

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