Mediterranean diet reverses metabolic syndrome

Another analysis of data from the PREDIMED trial has revealed that the Mediterranean diet may reverse metabolic syndrome.

This multicentre, randomised trial was performed between October 2003 and December 2010 and involved men and women (age 55-80) at high risk for cardiovascular disease.

All participants were randomly assigned to one of three dietary interventions: a Mediterranean diet supplemented with approximately 2oz per day of extra virgin olive oil; the same diet supplemented with 30g of mixed nuts per day (15g of walnuts and 7.5g each of almonds and hazelnuts) instead of the olive oil; or advice on maintaining a low-fat diet (control group).

For researchers interested in the effect of diet on metabolic syndrome, data from 5801 PREDIMED participants were analysed. Within 4.8 years of follow-up, metabolic syndrome developed in 960 (50.0%) of the 1919 participants who did not have the condition at baseline.

The risk of developing metabolic syndrome did not differ between participants assigned to the control diet and those assigned to either of the Mediterranean diets. More significantly, reversion of metabolic syndrome occurred in 958 of the 3392 participants who had the condition at baseline and followed either Mediterranean diet.

In a nutshell, more than 28% of the participants who had metabolic syndrome at the start of the trail no longer met the criteria for the disease at the end of it.

Metabolic syndrome affects about 25% of the adults worldwide, and these patients experience high blood pressure, high triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein, excess abdominal fat and high blood glucose levels. Switching to a Mediterranean diet may reverse these conditions and offer patients a chance for better health.