The role of the mediterranean diet on the development of the metabolic syndrome

Christina-Maria Kastorini, Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos

Department of Nutrition Science - Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Abstract

2. Introduction

2.1. Metabolic syndrome

2.2. Mediterranean diet

3. Selection of Studies

4. Mediterranean diet and the metabolic syndrome

4.1. Prospective studies

4.2. Cross-sectional studies

4.3. Clinical trials

5. Mediterranean diet and the components of the metabolic syndrome

5.1. Abdominal obesity

5.2. Triglycerides levels

5.3. HDL-cholesterol levels

5.4. Blood pressure levels

5.5. Fasting glucose levels

6. Perspective

7. References

1. ABSTRACT

The metabolic syndrome is a health situation of associated conditions, abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, elevated blood pressure and impaired glucose tolerance with rapidly increasing prevalence. Results from prospective cohort studies, cross-sectional studies and clinical trials indicate that adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern is associated with beneficial effects not only regarding the metabolic syndrome, but also its individual components, in particular waist circumference, triglycerides levels, HDL-cholesterol levels, blood pressure levels and glucose metabolism