Dietary therapy of the metabolic syndrome

摘要

The metabolic syndrome (MS) includes a cluster of metabolic disturbances and high blood pressure, and carries an increased cardiovascular risk. Insulin resistance is considered the common etiological factor for the individual components of the MS. The prevalence of insulin resistance varies, ranging from 25% to 32% of the adult, nondiabetic population. The prevalence of the MS is low in younger populations and increases with age, paralleling the increase in abdominal obesity. The rationale for a therapeutic strategy for the MS should be to correct the insulin resistance and hyperinsulinaemia and the various metabolic abnormalities. This should include a comprehensive, lifestyle change, with diet and physical exercise as the basic components. There is evidence that the quality of dietary fat influences insulin resistance and other related metabolic abnormalities. Weight loss, through a hypocaloric diet, including unsaturated fat and complex carbohydrates but with strict reduction in saturated fat are usually advocated.