Association of Tibetan Habitual Food and Metabolic Syndrome Among Tibetan People in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

BackgroundThe association between habitual food intake in Tibet and metabolic syndrome (MetS) is largely unclear.ObjectiveTo examine the association between Tibetan habitual food intake and MetS among Tibetan adults.MethodsA population-based cross-sectional study, named the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC) study, was conducted between 2018 and 2019. We used data from all Tibetans in the CMEC in the current study. The participants, 1,954 men and 3,060 women aged 18–79 years, were from Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, Tibet. The habitual dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). MetS was defined according to ATP III guidelines. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the association between five Tibetan habitual foods and MetS.ResultsTsampa, butter tea, and Qing cha intake were associated with reduced prevalence of MetS. Compared with the lowest quartile of each food, odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) of medium and high Tsampa intake were 0.59 (0.41–0.85) and 0.53 (0.36–0.77), ORs (95% CIs) of butter tea were 0.67 (0.52–0.88) and 0.61 (0.46–0.81), and Qing cha were 0.85 (0.71–1.03) and 0.75 (0.60–0.93), respectively. When exploring the joint effects of these three foods on MetS, the adjusted ORs and their 95% CIs were 0.65 (0.49–0.87) for the middle intake group and 0.59 (0.42–0.83) for the high intake group as compared with the never/rarely group (p = 0.022 for trend). Associations of MetS with Tibetan noodles and raw beef were not observed.ConclusionTsampa, butter tea, and Qing cha were negatively associated with MetS. The recommendation of increasing the intake of these foods may be beneficial for MetS prevention.

Association between sedentary time and metabolic syndrome: A cross-sectional study among Chinese Garze Tibetans

“…For example, the Nantong Metabolic Syndrome Study reported that 21.6% participant had MetS, and vigorous physical activity was associated with 15-40% decreased odds of metabolic syndrome (29). Another nationwide study of 4,865 adults from the China Health and Nutrition Surveys reported (32,33). The difference in prevalence rate of MetS among Tibetans and a mixture of Han Chinese also reveals the higher prevalence of MetS in minority group Tibetans than the dominate group Han Chinese, suggesting further policy actions to improve health equity in Chinese minority ethnicity groups residing in remote rural areas (34).…”

“…The MetS prevalence of 32.9% in this study is similar to the results of a study among a group older Tibetans in Jiarong (Northwest Sichuan Province) using similar diagnosis criteria, which reported the MetS prevalence of 37.6% ( 20 ). Other studies using the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort reported the prevalence of MetS of 17.8% among Tibetans while 11.9% among both Tibetans and Han Chinese using a stricter National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria ( 32 , 33 ). The difference in prevalence rate of MetS among Tibetans and a mixture of Han Chinese also reveals the higher prevalence of MetS in minority group Tibetans than the dominate group Han Chinese, suggesting further policy actions to improve health equity in Chinese minority ethnicity groups residing in remote rural areas ( 34 ).…”

Association between salt sensitivity of blood pressure and the risk of hypertension in a Chinese Tibetan population

“…The Tibetan population is a unique indigenous population (around 6 million) in China, who live at high altitudes and have unique genetic maps as well as dietary habits compared with Han people 20 . Specifically, their dietary pattern involves high levels of salt addition 21,22 . Meanwhile, Tibetans have the habit of drinking butter tea, which is traditionally made from tea leaves, yak butter, water, and salt.…”

“… 20 Specifically, their dietary pattern involves high levels of salt addition. 21 , 22 Meanwhile, Tibetans have the habit of drinking butter tea, which is traditionally made from tea leaves, yak butter, water, and salt. A high salt intake has a strong bearing on BP, especially for salt sensitive ones.…”

Associations of socioeconomic status and obesity with hypertension in Tibetan adults in a Chinese plateau area

“…The permanent population of Tibetans accounts for 85.74%. With the development of society and economy, ethnic minorities in plateau areas are more likely to obtain high-oil, high-sugar, and highsodium foods [14]. At the same time, the lack of healthy lifestyles and health interventions, the harsh natural environment with high cold and low oxygen, and complex ethnic cultural traditions and customs have created unique, complex, and severe health problems [15,16] and behavioral risk factors [17].According to a Chinese research, people of the Tibet autonomous region had lower overall health than those in other Chinese provinces [18].…”