Abstract
Background & AimsMetabolic syndrome (MetS) has become an important public concern due to its increasing prevalence. An altered fatty acid composition has been associated with MetS, but the Mediterranean diet has been shown to have a protective effect. The aim of the present study was to analyze the influence of a Mediterranean dietary pattern, as assessed by the biomarkers of food supplied, on the plasma fatty acid composition and its relation with MetS after 1 year of intervention.MethodsA total of 424 subjects were randomly selected from the PREDIMED randomized dietary trial after completing a 1-year intervention program. Participants aged 55 to 80 years and at high risk of cardiovascular disease were randomly assigned to three dietary interventions: Mediterranean diet supplemented with virgin olive oil or nuts, or a low-fat diet.ResultsAfter 1 year of intervention participants in the virgin olive oil group showed significantly increased plasma concentrations of palmitic and oleic acids, but reduced proportions of margaric, stearic, and linoleic acids. In turn, subjects in the nut group showed significantly increased levels of palmitic, linoleic, and α-linolenic acids, but reduced proportions of myristic, margaric, palmitoleic, and dihommo-γ-linoleic acids. Increases in the biomarkers of foods supplied to the Mediterranean diet groups, i.e., oleic and α-linolenic acids, were beneficially associated with the incidence, reversion and prevalence of MetS. No weight changes were observed among participants.ConclusionsThe nut and olive oil diets induced a fatty acid composition that has been shown to be beneficial in the face of MetS. Therefore, a Mediterranean diet rich in fats of vegetable origin may be a useful tool for the management of MetS without the need for concerns over weight gain due to its high fat content.Trial RegistrationControlled-Trials.com ISRCTN35739639
Highlights
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is defined as a clustering of interrelated metabolic risk factors that include dyslipidemia, hypertension, elevated fasting glucose and abdominal obesity [1]
The trial is currently ongoing with 7447 participants at high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) assigned randomly to three intervention groups: Mediterranean diet supplemented with virgin olive oil (MD+VOO), Mediterranean diet supplemented with mixed nuts (MD+nuts), or low-fat diet (Control)
The baseline characteristics of the 424 participants (175 men and 249 women) that completed the intervention program at 1 year are detailed in Table 1 according to their MetS status
Summary
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is defined as a clustering of interrelated metabolic risk factors that include dyslipidemia, hypertension, elevated fasting glucose and abdominal obesity [1]. As people with MetS are at increased risk of developing both cardiovascular disease (CVD) [4] and type 2 diabetes [5], it has become an important public health concern and several organizations have attempted to formulate simple criteria for its diagnosis [3]. Epidemiological evidence suggests that individuals with MetS should adhere to a diet low in saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, sodium, and simple sugars, with an increased intake of fruits, vegetables, fish, and whole grains [6,7]. These features resemble the principles of the traditional Mediterranean diet (MD) [8]. The aim of the present study was to analyze the influence of a Mediterranean dietary pattern, as assessed by the biomarkers of food supplied, on the plasma fatty acid composition and its relation with MetS after 1 year of intervention
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