Abstract
During the last decade, the rapid economic development in Saudi Arabia resulted in an unbalanced dietary intake pattern within the general population. Consequently, metabolic syndrome was also documented to be highly prevalent in the Middle-East region. We aimed to examine the relationship between selected dietary nutrient intakes and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the general adult population of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In this cross-sectional study, 185 adult Saudis aged 19 to 60 years (87 males and 98 females (mean age 35.6 ± 13.2 and 37.6 ± 11.7 years, respectively)) were included. The criteria for metabolic syndrome were based on the International Diabetes Foundation (IDF) criteria, and the dietary food intake was assessed by two 24-h dietary recall methods. The odd ratios (ORs) of metabolic syndrome risk across quartiles of selected dietary nutrients were significantly lower for carbohydrates and proteins, as well as for vitamins A, C, E and K, calcium, zinc and magnesium (p < 0.05 for all) in the female group with metabolic syndrome than those without. The pattern of daily dietary intake of selected nutrients among the general population of Saudi Arabia raises concern, and this dietary imbalance could increase the risk of metabolic syndrome, particularly in adult Saudi females.
Highlights
Metabolic syndrome represents a combination of several risk factors encompassing central obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and hypertension [1,2]
The results show that the lowest quartile of total carbohydrate and protein was associated with a nearly three-fold increase in risk, while selected micronutrients indicate that low intakes of vitamin A, C, E, K, calcium, zinc and magnesium carry an increased risk of having metabolic syndrome
The present study suggests that a dietary intake of high carbohydrate and high protein shifts the risk towards lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome in females compared to males
Summary
Metabolic syndrome represents a combination of several risk factors encompassing central obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and hypertension [1,2]. These risk factors contribute largely towards the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) [3,4]. Dietary factors have a major influence on metabolic syndrome. In addition to the findings of NCEP ATP III, several studies suggest that lifestyle modifications could be an important element for reducing and managing metabolic syndrome risk factors [8,9]. It has been shown that the various risk factors contributing to metabolic syndrome differ between genders and in different countries [12]
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