Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors in Young Adults

One in four Americans are at risk for developing metabolic syndrome, which is also being observed in youths. Researchers in the U.S. and South Korea collaborated to assess the dietary intakes in relation to metabolic syndrome risk factors among young adults.

After adjusting for age, total energy intake, body mass index, and physical activity, mean intakes of fruit, fruit juice, and vegetables were significantly higher in subjects who had no risk factors than in subjects who have one or two risk factors for metabolic syndrome. The average intake of sweetened beverages was lower in subjects who had no risk factors than in subjects who had one or more risk factors among white men and women—but not African Americans.

“Our results suggest that low fruit and vegetable consumption and high sweetened beverage consumption are independently associated with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in specific sex-ethnicity populations,” the authors conclude.