[Association between dietary phytochemical index and occurrence of metabolic syndrome and its risk factors [among Tehranian adults]: Tehran lipid and glucose study]

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between dietary phytochemical index [PI] and occurrence of metabolic syndrome and its components during a 3 year follow up of Tehranian adults. This longitudinal study was conducted within the framework of Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study, between the third [2006-2008] and fourth phases [2009-2011]. Dietary intakes were collected using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire at baseline. The predictor role of dietary phytochemicals for risk of abdominal obesity, fasting glucose intolerance, hypertriglyceridemia, hypertension and metabolic syndrome-according to the international criteria-were evaluated using regression logistic models after adjustment of confounding factors. The mean of dietary phytochemical index was 29.8 +/- 12.3 at baseline. Higher intake of phytochemical-rich foods was associated with a significant descending trend in risk of metabolic syndrome, abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia and hypertension [P for trend<0.05]. Subjects in the highest quartile of dietary phytochemicals intake had a thirty-nine percent lower risk of abdominal obesity [0.61; 95%CI 0.36-0.99], thirty seven percent lower risk of hypertriglyceridemia [0.63; 95%CI 0.38-0.99] and a forty four percent lower risk of hypertension [0.56; 95%CI 0.35-0.90], compared with those in the lowest quartile. Our findings indicate that higher intakes of phytochemical-rich foods can decrease the risk of metabolic syndrome and related risk factors