Dietary patterns associated with metabolic syndrome: The Khorramabad Study

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex disorder considered as a worldwide epidemic. The aim of this study was to characterize the dietary patterns of Iranian adults and examine its association with metabolic syndrome. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 973 persons were selected using multi-stage cluster, random sampling method in Khorramabad city. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated, 168 food-item, self-administrated, and semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ). To identify the dietary patterns, factor analysis was used for principal components. Results: Three major dietary patterns were identified: the western dietary pattern (WDP), the healthy dietary pattern (HDP), and the traditional dietary pattern (TDP). Participants in the highest quintile of HDP had lower odds of MetS (OR: 0.45; 95% CI: 0.27-0.77) than those in the lowest quintile, whereas those in the highest quintile of the WDP score had greater odds of the MetS (OR: 3.44; 95% CI: 2.08-5.70) than participants of the lowest quintile. Multi linear regression showed that the WDP score was associated negatively with serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and positively with other components of MetS. Even after body mass index adjustment, the association remained significant, except for fasting plasma insulin. Conclusions: a HDP is associated with reduced risk of MetS. In contrast, a WDP is associated with a greater risk of the MetS.