Abstract
Background: The metabolic syndrome is a cluster of abnormalities that is accompanied by a 2-fold increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease. Even if there is full agreement that lifestyle changes to induce weight loss are the first-line approach, the ideal diet for the treatment of the metabolic syndrome remains uncertain. Objective: The objective was to compare the effects of 2 diets on cardiovascular disease risk factors in obese patients with the metabolic syndrome. Design: The study was carried out in 100 patients randomly assigned to either a diet relatively rich in carbohydrate [65% of energy as carbohydrate, 13% as protein, and 22% as fat (17% as unsaturated fat)] or a diet that was low in carbohydrate and high in protein and in monounsaturated fat [48% of energy as carbohydrate, 19% as protein, and 33% as fat (24% as unsaturated fat)]. Results: All 100 patients completed the 5-mo study. At the end of the study, all the components of the metabolic syndrome (except HDL, which did not change) decreased significantly in both groups. With the high-carbohydrate diet, a significant decrease in LDL-cholesterol concentrations was also observed. Although the extent of the resolution of the metabolic syndrome was not different between groups, the low-carbohydrate diet was associated with a greater decrease in the prevalence of hypertension (P < 0.05) and of hypertriacylglycerolemia (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Tailoring diet interventions to the specific presentation of the metabolic syndrome may be the best way of reducing the risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 946-951 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | American Journal of Clinical Nutrition |
Volume | 86 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 1 2007 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Blood pressure
- Cardiovascular disease risk factors
- Diet treatment
- High-lipid diets
- High-protein diets
- Insulin resistance
- Low-carbohydrate diets
- Metabolic syndrome
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine (miscellaneous)
- Nutrition and Dietetics