Association between nutrients and metabolic syndrome in middle-aged Korean women

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between nutritional intake and metabolic syndrome in otherwise healthy middle-aged Korean women.

Retrospectively, medical records were reviewed for nutritional intake of 2,182 Korean women who had undergone routine medical check-ups from 2010 to 2016 at Pusan National University Hospital. The patients who met diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome based on NCEP-ATPIII were included, and each of the patients was assessed through self-report questionnaires and individual interview with a health care provider. The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for women in Republic of Korea was based on 2015 criteria discussed in Dietary Reference Intake for Koreans, organized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Through univariate analysis, daily calorie, protein, fat, and carbohydrate consumption were significantly higher and exceeded RDA in the patients with metabolic syndrome; other than major nutrients, iron, vitamin B2, and niacin were also consumed in excess of the RDA in these patients. Multivariate analysis showed that carbohydrate consumption, along with protein and vitamin B2, were significantly higher in the patients with metabolic syndrome.

In middle-aged Korean women, high consumption of carbohydrates, along with protein and vitamin B2, was found to have a statistically significant association with the presence of metabolic syndrome. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2020;64(3):298-305.