ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has become a major health problem across the globe. Various investigations have been conducted to find the underlying lifestyle-related causes of MetS. Modifiable dietary factors are specifically the center of interest, including the macronutrient composition of the regimen. We aimed to study the association between a low-carbohydrate diet score (LCDS) with MetS and its components in a Kavarian population, located in the center of Iran. METHODS: The present study is a cross-sectional investigation conducted on a healthy sub-sample of PERSIAN Kavar cohort meeting our inclusion criteria (n = 2225). General, dietary, anthropometric, and laboratory data were obtained for each individual using validated questionnaires and measurements. Possible associations between LCDS and MetS and its components were verified using relevant statistical analyses, including analysis of variance and covariance (ANOVA and ANCOVA) and logistic regression. P-values <0.05 were considered as significant. RESULTS: Compared with the lowest LCDS tertiles, those who were assigned to the upper tertiles had lower chance of MetS, after adjusting for potential confounders (OR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.51-0.85). Moreover, those who assigned to the top LCDS tertile had 23% (OR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.60-0.98) and 24% (OR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.60-0.98) lower odds of abdominal adiposity and abnormal glucose homeostasis, respectively. CONCLUSION: We observed a protective effect of low-carbohydrate diet against metabolic syndrome and its components, including abdominal obesity and abnormal glucose homeostasis. However, these initial findings need to be confirmed, especially in the format of clinical trials to ensure causality.
