The association between low-carbohydrate diet score and metabolic syndrome among Iranian adults

Abstract

Objective: Assessing relationship between low carbohydrate diet (LCD) score and metabolic syndrome (Mets) in Iranian adults. Design: Cross-sectional study Setting: Yazd Health Study and Taghzieh Mardom-e-Yazd study. Participants: Data of 2074 participants were used. Dietary intakes were assessed by a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. LCD score was calculated for each person by summing up the assigned scores to deciles of energy percentages from macronutrients. Mets was evaluated using National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. Eventually, association between LCD score and Mets was examined using logistic regression. Results: Total Mets prevalence was approximately 40.5%. After adjustment for confounders, subjects in the higher quartile of LCD score had a significant lower chance of Mets versus lower quartile among all participants (Q4 versus Q1: OR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.50-0.92) and separately in men (Q4 versus Q1: OR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.34-0.86) and women (Q2 versus Q1: OR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.34-0.82). Furthermore, more LCD adherence in men reduced abdominal obesity by 47% (Q3 versus Q1OR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.28-0.99). Low HDL cholesterol was also observed both in the highest quartile of LCD score in all participants (OR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.56-0.99) and separately in men (OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.40-0.98) versus the first quartile. Conclusions: More adherence to LCD might be related to lower chance of Mets and some of its components such as low HDL cholesterol and abdominal obesity specially in men. Further studies are required to confirm the findings.

Low‐carbohydrate diet score is associated with improved blood pressure and cardio‐metabolic risk factors among obese adults

“…Also, the prevalence of MetS reduced by adherence to LCD score. Similar to our study, in the study by Sangesefidi ZS et al (Sangsefidi, Lorzadeh, et al, 2021), LCD score was associated with lower odds of metabolic syndrome and higher HDL concentrations. Also, Ha K et al , reported that LCD diet did not increase the risk of metabolic syndrome among Korean adults and reduced the risk of low HDL-cholesterol values.…”

“…They also reported reduced plasma glucose, insulin, and HOMA‐IR, although we did not find any statistically significant difference in serum glucose or insulin level of highest versus lowest LCD categories, but, we found a significantly lower prevalence of MetS in those with highest adherence to LCD score. Similarly, numerous studies reported lower chance of MetS with higher adherence to low carbohydrate diet or with dietary carbohydrate restriction (Ha, Joung, & Song, 2018; Hyde et al, 2019; Kim et al, 2008; Sangsefidi, Lorzadeh, et al, 2021; Volek et al, 2008). In a nationwide cohort study by Li Q et al (Li et al, 2021), there was a U ‐shaped association between the percentage of carbohydrate intake (mean, 56.7%; SD, 10.7) and new‐onset hypertension ( p < 0.001), with the lowest risk observed at 50%–55% carbohydrate intake.…”

Association of low-carbohydrate-diet score and cognitive performance in older adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)

“…In the recent years, a low-carbohydrate-diet (LCD) score characterized by a diet with lower intake of carbohydrates and higher intakes of proteins and fats has been proposed [ 10 ]. LCD score has received widespread attention as a viable option for the treatment of losing weight and preventing obesity [ 11 , 12 ]. Previous studies have showed that LCD score was linked to many aspects of health, such as diabetes mellitus, coronary artery calcium progression, psychological disorders, and so on [ 10 , 13 , 14 ].…”

“…Previous studies have showed that LCD score was linked to many aspects of health, such as diabetes mellitus, coronary artery calcium progression, psychological disorders, and so on [ 10 , 13 , 14 ]. Sangsefidi, et al reported that LCD score might be associated with lower chance of metabolic syndrome in Iranian adults based on a cross-sectional study [ 11 ]. However, to the best of our knowledge, few studies have explored the associations of LCD score and cognitive performance in the older adults so far.…”

The association between low carbohydrate diet scores and cardiometabolic risk factors in Chinese adults

“…Halton et al also created animal-based and plant-based LCD scores. Few studies have examined the relationship between the LCD score and cardiometabolic risk factors in adults, including blood lipid (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28) , fasting blood glucose (FBG) (21)(22)(23)(24)(25) , blood pressure (21,22,24,25,28) and uric acid (23) . There are several problems with these studies.…”