Dietary Strategies for Metabolic Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of metabolic risk factors, characterized by abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), hypertension, and insulin resistance. Lifestyle modifications, especially dietary habits, are the main therapeutic strategy for the treatment and management of metabolic syndrome, but the most effective dietary pattern for its management has not been established. Specific dietary modifications, such as improving the quality of the foods or changing macronutrient distribution, showed beneficial effects on metabolic syndrome conditions and individual parameters. On comparing low-fat and restricted diets, the scientific evidence supports the use of the Mediterranean Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet intervention as the new paradigm for metabolic syndrome prevention and treatment. The nutritional distribution and quality of these healthy diets allows health professionals to provide easy-to-follow dietary advice without the need for restricted diets. Nonetheless, energy-restricted dietary patterns and improvements in physical activity are crucial to improve the metabolic disturbances observed in metabolic syndrome patients.

Dietary Patterns, Blood Pressure and the Glycemic and Lipidemic Profile of Two Teenage, European Populations

“…Although dietary patterns with a higher consumption of fat have generally been positively associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in teenagers [ 53 , 54 ], certain diets, including consumption of specific food groups, such as the DASH diet [ 55 ], have been related with a better metabolic profile [ 56 ]. Indeed, higher adherence to the DASH diet has been shown to relate to a reduced prevalence of metabolic syndrome and increased blood pressure during adolescence [ 43 ], as well as lower levels of HbA1c and systolic blood pressure, in young adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, respectively [ 57 ].…”

Vegan Diet Health Benefits in Metabolic Syndrome

“…Moreover, it should be noted that the term “PBD” does not necessarily mean “healthy”, since there is evidence that certain non-animal-origin food such as refined cereals, snacks, pastries or sugary drinks are harmful to health [ 32 ]. PBD to be defined as “healthy” must promote the intake of whole grains, fruit, vegetables, legumes and non-hydrogenated vegetable oils, such as extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) [ 33 , 34 , 35 ]. Finally, the substitution of certain animal-origin food helps in reducing the intake of harmful components present in red and processed meats, such as excessive sodium, heme iron, nitrates and nitrites, which increase the risk of CVDs and MetS onset [ 33 ].…”

“…MetS is a clinical condition characterized by a series of metabolic impairments, that cause an increased cardiovascular risk [ 33 , 41 ]. The positive association between PBD and cardiovascular risk is well-known in literature; in fact, people that follow a PBD regimen, and especially vegans, have a lower incidence of CVDs ( Figure 4 ) [ 85 ].…”

Physical Activity and Low Glycemic Index Mediterranean Diet: Main and Modification Effects on NAFLD Score. Results from a Randomized Clinical Trial

“…The Mediterranean Diet (MD) has long been associated with favorable health outcomes [ 17 , 18 ], and good adherence to MD has been reported to have a beneficial effect on the severity of NAFLD [ 19 ] as well as of Cardiovascular Diseases [ 20 ]. In particular, the Low Carbohydrate Diet, similar to the Low Glycemic Index Mediterranean Diet, is characterized by a reduction in the intake of several ultra-processed foods, refined grains starches, and foods rich in simple or added sugars, and it leads to a number of benefits such as weight loss and weight loss maintenance, reduction of Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP), reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and Triglycerides levels, increase of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, improvements in insulin resistance, and reduction of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels [ 21 ].…”