Acrylamide Intake and Metabolic Syndrome Risk: The Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

This cohort study aimed to determine the relationship between acrylamide intake and the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its risk factors in Tehranian adults. A total of 1762 men and 2786 women, respectively, with a mean ± SD age of 38.6 ± 14.3 and 35.9 ± 11.8 years and body mass index of 25.8 ± 4.31 were evaluated in this secondary analysis of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study. Dietary data were collected using a standard food frequency questionnaire. Total acrylamide intake was computed using the amount of acrylamide measured in 30 food items. MetS was defined according to the Iranian-modified National Cholesterol Education Program. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate the incidence of MetS and its risk factors associated with acrylamide intake, considering confounding factors (e.g., age, sex, physical activity, body mass index, smoking). During the average follow-up of 6.23 ± 2.58 years, 1279 (28% of total) subjects had MetS incidence. The incidence of MetS was not associated with quartiles of acrylamide intake. After adjusting for confounding factors, participants in the fourth quartile of acrylamide intake had 15% and 21% higher risk of high triglyceride and high waist circumference, respectively. Moreover, acrylamide intake was positively related to high blood pressure incidence (Hazard ratio [Confidence interval] Q1-Q4: 1, 1.0 [0.92-1.08], 1.10 [1.02-1.19], 1.16 [1.07-1.26], p trend = 0.003). Based on findings, no apparent association was observed between acrylamide intake and MetS incidence. Long-term intake of acrylamide is associated with an increased risk of hypertriglyceridemia, high blood pressure, and abdominal obesity.