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Dietary energy density and the metabolic syndrome among Iranian women

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 65, pages 598–605 (2011)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

In a comparison of women worldwide, Iranian women were found to have the highest prevalence of the metabolic syndrome. Furthermore, specific characteristics of diet in Middle-Eastern countries might provide additional information on the diet–disease relations. This study was performed to assess the association between dietary energy density and prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among Iranian women.

Subjects/Methods:

Usual dietary intakes were assessed in a cross-sectional study of 486 Iranian adult women by the use of a food frequency questionnaire. Dietary energy density was calculated as each individual's reported daily energy intake (kcal/d) into total weight of foods (excluding beverages) consumed (g/d). Anthropometric measures, fasting plasma glucose, serum lipid profiles and blood pressure were evaluated. The metabolic syndrome was defined according to Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines.

Results:

Mean dietary energy density was 1.77±0.35 kcal/g. Individuals in the top tertile of dietary energy density had 80% (odds ratio: 1.80; 95% confidence interval: 1.17, 3.15) greater odds of having the metabolic syndrome. Even after further adjustment for body mass index, this association remained significant. Higher dietary energy density was also significantly associated with greater odds of having abdominal adiposity (4.23; 2.51, 7.18), high-serum triacylglycerol concentrations (3.55; 2.31, 5.93) and low-serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (1.80; 1.13, 2.84). No overall significant associations were found between higher dietary energy density and risk of having elevated blood pressure or abnormal glucose homeostasis.

Conclusions:

Higher dietary energy density was significantly associated with a greater risk of the metabolic syndrome and most of its components. Further studies are required to focus on lowering dietary energy density as a probable strategy for preventing metabolic syndrome.

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Acknowledgements

Data collection phase of the study was supported by a grant (P. 25/47/2337) from the National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Financial support for conception, design, data analysis and manuscript drafting was provided by the School of Public Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    A Esmaillzadeh & L Azadbakht

  2. Food Security and Nutrition Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    A Esmaillzadeh & L Azadbakht

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  1. A Esmaillzadeh
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  2. L Azadbakht
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Correspondence to A Esmaillzadeh.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Contributors: AE and LA participated in the collection of data, conception and design, statistical analysis and data interpretation, manuscript drafting and approval of the final manuscript for submission.

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Esmaillzadeh, A., Azadbakht, L. Dietary energy density and the metabolic syndrome among Iranian women. Eur J Clin Nutr 65, 598–605 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.284

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