Study Identifies Four Dietary Concerns among Those at Risk for Metabolic Syndrome

by | Jan 23, 2014 | 2013, Metabolic Syndrome, Vitamins

Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. Researchers found dietary concerns with sodium, polyunsaturated fats, fiber, and vitamin D intake: 65 % of men and 74 % of women consumed Vitamin D levels below the recommended amount.

Metabolic Syndrome effects over 47 million Americans and is characterized by a number of risk factors that include central obesity (excessive fat tissue in and around the abdomen), increased blood pressure (130/85 mmHg or higher), and insulin resistance (the body can’t properly use insulin or blood sugar). Because Metabolic Syndrome consists of so many symptoms, it is also known as “Syndrome X” (1). The average yearly pharmacy cost for a patient with Metabolic Syndrome is $4,000 and it has been called “the most expensive disease you’ve never heard of” (2).

Now a new study (3) has identified four dietary concerns among those at risk for metabolic syndrome. The study involved 146 Nordic (those living in Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden) men and women (100 men, 46 women) between the ages of 57 and 63, a body mass index (BMI) between 27 and 38 kg/m2 and having at least two risk factors for metabolic syndrome.

They completed dietary surveys of their usual diet for four consecutive days. The researchers found dietary concerns with sodium, polyunsaturated fats, fiber, and vitamin D intake:

  • 83% of men consumed sodium above the recommended range (2400-2800 milligrams per day), with the average male consuming 23.5% higher levels of sodium (3460 mg per day)

(p < 0.001) than the recommendation. 65% of women consumed sodium above the recommended range (p < 0.001).

  • Only 30% of men and 35% of women consumed the recommended amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids (5-10% of total calories). The average man consumed 16% lower amounts (4.2% total calories) than the recommendation and the average woman consumed 6% lower amounts (4.7% total calories) (p = 0.064).
  • Only 20% of men and 26% of women consumed the recommended amount of fiber (3 grams per 238 calories consumed). Men had an average fiber intake 30% below recommendations (2.1 grams per 238 calories consumed) and women had an average fiber intake 13.4% below recommendations (2.6 grams per 238 calories consumed).
  • 65% of men and 74% of women consumed Vitamin D levels below the recommended amount (300-400 IU per day). The average man consumed 23% lower levels (232  IU per day) than the recommended amount and the average women consumed 33.3% lower levels (200 IU per day) (p < 0.001).
  • While 20% of men and 14% of women consumed the recommended intake of saturated fat (<10% total calories), with men consuming 28% more (12.8% total calories) and women consuming 40% more (14% total calories), it was not statistically significant (p = 0.516).

For the researchers, “The low adherence to nutrition recommendations is likely to further perpetuate these high-risk individuals in developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease”. They added that “Health providers should pay special attention to dietary assessments and should adequately educate these risk groups about the potential consequences of their nutritional intake toward the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.” 

Source: Svandis Erna Jonsdottir, Lea Brader, Ingibjorg Gunnarsdottir, Ola Kally Magnusdottir, Ursula Schwab, Marjukka Kolehmainen, Ulf Risérus, Karl-Heinz Herzig, Lieselotte Cloetens, Hannah Helgegren, Anna Johansson-Persson, Janne Hukkanen, Kaisa Poutanen, Matti Uusitupa, Kjeld Hermansen & Inga Thorsdottir (2013) Adherence to the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations in a Nordic population with metabolic syndrome: high salt consumption and low dietary fibre intake (The SYSDIET study), Food & Nutrition Research, 57:1, 21391, DOI: 10.3402/ fnr.v57i0.21391

© 2013 Svandis Erna Jonsdottir et al. Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/), (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/)

Posted January 23, 2014.

Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Hauppauge, NY.  You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at PitchingDoc@msn.com or visiting his web site at www.PitchingDoc.com

References:

  1. “Metabolic Syndrome” posted on the American Heart Association Website.
  2. “Metabolic Syndrome: The Most Expensive Disease You’ve Never Heard Of” – Medical News Today May 9, 2005.
  3. Johnsdottir SE.  Adherence to the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations in a Nordic population with metabolic syndrome: high salt consumption and low dietary fibre intake.  Food Nutr Res 2013 Dec 16;57. doi: 10.3402/fnr.v57i0.21391