Associations between Components of Metabolic Syndrome and Demographic, Nutritional, and Lifestyle Factors

To evaluate the associations between individuals with and without changes in components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and demographic, nutritional, and lifestyle factors.

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 224 individuals followed-up at a public hospital in Northeast Brazil. We used National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP) criteria to diagnose MetS. We assessed components of MetS as dependent variables, while sex, age, food consumption, smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity, anthropometric parameters, and sleep hours were independent variables.

Comparing individuals with and without changes in components of MetS, the logistic regression models revealed that female sex was predictive of increased waist circumference and low HDL-c levels while advanced age was predictive of increased blood pressure and blood glucose levels. BMI emerged as a predictor for waist circumference and a protective factor for triglyceride levels. In addition, potassium intake, physical activity, and sleep duration were protective against decreased HDL-c, elevated triglyceride, and elevated blood pressure levels, respectively.

This study demonstrated that sex, age, BMI, dietary potassium intake, physical activity, and hours of sleep are factors to be targeted in public health actions for prevention and treatment of MetS.