Higher Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Reduces Risk of Metabolic Syndrome

by | Mar 25, 2022 | 2022, Fruits and Vegetables, Metabolic Syndrome

Written by Taylor Woosley, Science Writer. Study findings show that the robust antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of fruits and vegetables lower the potential for metabolic syndrome, particularly when fruit and vegetable consumption exceed 3 or more servings a day.

fruits and vegetablesMetabolic syndrome represents a cluster of cardiometabolic risk factors that include hypertension, obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and microalbuminuria 1. Additionally, metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased potential for developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease 2. The presence of metabolic syndrome indicates a proinflammatory state in the body characterized by an increase of inflammatory cytokine activity 3. In a global status report, the World Health Organization stated that non-communicable conditions (cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes) account for an estimated two-thirds of deaths globally 4. A variety of lifestyle factors contribute to metabolic syndrome such as poor diet, excess stress, and lack of activity.

Diet plays a crucial role in supporting the optimal functioning of immune cells to preserve human health 5. Changes in diet and exercise have been previously studied for their potential protective association against metabolic syndrome incidence. Consumption of fruits and vegetables have been touted for the favorable effects they offer, such as the cardiometabolic benefits 6. Fruits and vegetables contain robust levels of vitamin C, minerals, dietary fiber, and other antioxidants that provide protective properties against metabolic syndrome 7. Past studies have showcased adequate fruit and vegetable intake (average of 3-5 servings/day) with a decrease in oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers 8.

Papaioannou et. al conducted a cross-sectional study to better explore the role of an antioxidant-rich diet and its effects on metabolic syndrome. A total of 252 participants (aged 65-70 years), without pre-existing chronic diseases, partook in the study and completed a dietary intake assessment of daily fruit and vegetable intake. Participants were also monitored based on physical activity level, with suggestions that they adhere to the physical activity guidelines of 150 weekly minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity. Assessments such as waist circumference, fasting glucose, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and lipid levels were measured to identify participants meeting the criteria for metabolic syndrome. Of the 252 participants, 94 men and 152 women completed the data components of the study. On average, total energy intake corresponded to 1751 ± 565 kcal and the average time spent in sedentary activities amounted to 502 ± 71 min, with 79% of subjects adhering to the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week. After reviewing the provided data, a total of 27% of the participants were classified with metabolic syndrome. When observing the potential relationship between fruit and vegetable intake and the presence of metabolic syndrome, the substantial findings are as follows:

  • A significant inverse association between fruit and vegetable intake and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was noted, with a lower intake of fruits & vegetables resulting in an increased likelihood of having metabolic syndrome (OR:1.23; 95%CI: 1.03-1.47).
  • The average consumption of fruit and vegetables in those with and without metabolic syndrome were 2.6 ± 1.8 and 3.3 ± 1.8, respectively.
  • When further examining the effects of vegetable intake alone regarding the presence of metabolic syndrome, the intake of vegetables was inversely related to metabolic syndrome prevalence (OR: 1.47; 95%CI: 1.04-2.07).
  • No corresponding effects of fruit consumption on prevalence of metabolic syndrome were observed.
  • On average, the amount of daily fruit intake in those with and without metabolic syndrome was 1.4 ± 1.1 and 1.7 ± 1.2, respectively.

Results of the study show the robust cardiometabolic effects of proper fruit and vegetable consumption and its potential protection from metabolic syndrome incidence. Further research should better explore and identify what fruits and vegetables offered the most protective benefits to study participants. Study limitations include the potential for overgeneralization due to the cross-sectional design of the study and the potential for recall bias based on the self-reporting nature of the assessments.

Source: Papaioannou, Konstantinos-Georgios, Fawzi Kadi, and Andreas Nilsson. “Benefits of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption on Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome Are Independent of Physical Activity Behaviors in Older Adults.” Nutrients 14, no. 2 (2022): 263.

© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/).

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Posted March 25, 2022.

Taylor Woosley studied biology at Purdue University before becoming a 2016 graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a major in Writing. She currently resides in Glen Ellyn, IL.

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