Mediterranean Diet Linked With Reduction in Risk of Metabolic Syndrome

A new study out of Greece has found that Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of developing metabolic syndrome. They arrived at this conclusion after analyzing 50 studies on the Mediterranean diet. The meta-analysis also found that following a Mediterranean diet also reduces the risk of metabolic syndrome parameters such as waist circumference, glucose metabolism, blood pressure, triglycerides and HDL levels.

The Mediterranean diet recommends foods such as olives and olive oils, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products. The diet also calls for reduced consumption of red meat and alcohol.

“To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first work that has systematically assessed, through a large meta-analysis, the role of the Mediterranean diet on metabolic syndrome and its components,” said a statement by Demosthenes Panagiotakos, PhD, associate professor in biostatistics-epidemiology of nutrition, department of science of dietetics-nutrition, Harokopio University of Athens.

The study details appear in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.


Source-Medindia