Abstract
BackgroundPrevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) is rapidly increasing worldwide. To investigate the spread of MS risks and its relationship with eating habits including fish intake, we carried out a health examination for young and middle-aged men.MethodsThe subjects were 97 healthy men (20 to 50 years) living in Mwanza, located on the shore of Lake Victoria in Tanzania. The health examination was conducted according to the basic protocol of WHO-CARDIAC (Cardiovascular Diseases and Alimentary Comparison) Study. This survey included anthropometric measurements, a dietary questionnaire, blood pressure measurement, and blood and 24-hour urine (24U) collection. Excretions of sodium, potassium and taurine (Tau) in 24U were estimated as the biomarkers of salt, vegetable and fish product intakes respectively.ResultsIn this survey, 62.5 % of the young and 63.3% of the middle-aged adults had MS risks. The most prevalent MS risk factor was increased blood pressure (50.0% of young adults and 53.1% of the middle-aged). Tau excretions in 24U and n-3 fatty acid levels in plasma were significantly lower in young adults than those in the middle-aged (both P < 0.05). The eating frequencies of non-traditional foods such as donuts and ice cream showed negative correlations with age (r = -0.282, P < 0.01 and r = -0.246, P < 0.05), while salt intake positively correlated with age (r = 0.236, P < 0.05). Tau excretion in 24U was inversely correlated with atherosclerosis index (r = -0.306, P < 0.01) and fasting blood glucose (r = -0.284, P < 0.05).ConclusionsYoung adults in Mwanza had a decreased frequency of eating habit of fish products compared with the middle-aged as indicated by Tau excretion in 24U and n-3 fatty acid level in the plasma, and over half of young adults had one or more MS risks just as the middle-aged. The change in food habit of lowered fish intake and raised exotic food intake might be concluded to increase MS risks in young men.
Highlights
Prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) is rapidly increasing worldwide
It was shown that the excretions of Tau, sodium (Na) and potassium (K) in 24-hour urine (24U) correlated well with dietary fish, salt and vegetable intakes, respectively, which credibly linked to the MS risks [7]
We evaluated the potential relationship between dietary habit and MS risks in young male Africans as compared to those of middle-aged males
Summary
To investigate the spread of MS risks and its relationship with eating habits including fish intake, we carried out a health examination for young and middle-aged men. Metabolic syndrome (MS) is an increasing health problem throughout the world. In the WHO-Cardiovascular Diseases Alimentary Comparison (CARDIAC) Study the relation of CVD mortalities with biological markers of diet was assessed using 24-hour urine (24U) analysis; a more reliable method for dietary habit assessment than questionnaire [4]. It was shown that the excretions of Tau, sodium (Na) and potassium (K) in 24U correlated well with dietary fish, salt and vegetable intakes, respectively, which credibly linked to the MS risks [7]. Recent epidemiological studies and animal experiments have shown that a high-fish diet, or intake of Tau, prevents MS risks including obesity, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Tau excretion might be a useful indicator for assessment of potential MS risks [8,9,10]
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