Nutritional and metabolic risk factors for insulin resistance in adults

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the association of insulin resistance (IR) with dietary, fitness, anthropometric and other components of metabolic syndrome (MS) in adult participants. Cross-sectional study of 80 adult participants (58±8 years old) were clinically and ethically selected. They were all assessed for anthropometry, dietary habits, plasma biochemistry and indirect measurement of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). Participants were diagnosed for MS by IDF criterion and placed in 3 different groups using tertiles of HOMA-IR. Values were statistically correlated with the remaining variables. Predictors of IR were determined by multivariate regression analysis. HOMA-IR was significant (p<0.001) and positively associated with MS prevalence (r=0.67), C-reactive protein (r=0.58), waist circumference (WC) (r=0.55), servings of fat consumption (r=0.52), body weight (r=0.43), body mass index (r=0.40), uric acid (r=0.40), inversely correlated associated with HDL-c (r=-0.56), VO2max (r=-0.28), ingested fibers (r=-0.47) and fruits (r=-0.39). The fiber intake discriminated tertiles of HOMA-IR (G1<G2<G3). The variables considered independent predictors of HOMA-IR were WC, fat intake, MS, low fiber intake, low muscle mass and high plasmatic concentrations of uric acid. The highest values of HOMA-IR (P75) were positively associated with consumption of refined grains, uric acid, triglycerides, low consumption of fruit and low HDL-c. Main determinants of IR are preventable factors. Key words: Insulin resistance, oxidative stress, inflammation, lipoproteins, eating habits, physical fitness.