Plain language summary
Metabolic syndrome, which is classified as having high blood pressure, obesity, high blood glucose and high cholesterol, is believed to be a consequence of the Westernised diet and lifestyle, which has become increasingly common place in several countries worldwide. The Westernised diet comprises of a high intake of saturated fats, meats, processed foods, sweets, salt and food additives, all of which can add to the burden of inflammatory processes. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to investigate associations evident between diet, body composition and metabolic measurements (such as BMI and blood pressure) with inflammatory markers; C-reactive protein and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (inflammatory markers that increase in response to inflammation), in adults diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. Researchers found that regardless of gender or age, there was a direct association with C-reactive protein and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and metabolic syndrome. The subjects who consumed a higher amount of ‘Westernised foods’ showed higher levels of inflammatory markers when compared to those who a consumed a more healthful diet.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metabolic syndrome is commonly associated with inflammation. The underlying factors of inflammation in metabolic syndrome are not fully understood. The objective of the study was to determine the association of dietary patterns, anthropometric measurements, and metabolic parameters with inflammatory markers in middle-aged and older adults with metabolic syndrome in Taiwan. METHODS A total of 26,016 subjects aged ≥35 y with metabolic syndrome were recruited from Mei Jau institution between 2004 and 2013 for a cross sectional study. Metabolic syndrome was defined by the International Diabetes Federation. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to evaluate the association of dietary patterns, anthropometric measurements, and metabolic parameters with C-reactive protein (CRP) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in men and women with metabolic syndrome. Crude and adjusted models were analyzed by gender. RESULTS The western dietary pattern, obesity, high body fat, high waist or hip circumference, and high waist-to-hip ratio were significantly associated with increased odds ratios of high CRP and NLR in both genders. High systolic or diastolic blood pressure (BP), low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), high low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high total cholesterol (TC), high serum triglycerides (TG), and high fasting blood glucose (FBG) were significantly correlated with increased odds ratios of high CRP in both genders. Low HDL-C, high LDL-C, high serum TG, and high FBG were significantly associated with increased odds ratios of high NLR in both genders. However, high systolic (OR = 1.124, 95% CI 1.047-1.206, P < 0.01) or diastolic BP (OR = 1.176, 95% CI 1.087-1.273, P < 0.001) and high TC (OR = 1.138, 95% CI 1.062-1.220, P < 0.001) were significantly correlated with increased odds ratios of high NLR only in men. CONCLUSIONS The western dietary pattern, obese-related anthropometric parameters, and most components of metabolic syndrome are positively associated with CRP levels and NLR in men and women with metabolic syndrome.
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