Dietary patterns in Xinjiang, Western China and associations with metabolic syndrome: a population-based study

To examine the association between dietary patterns and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in western China, which has not been previously reported.

A population based cross-sectional study design. Dietary intake was assessed using a semi-quantitative FFQ. Principal component analysis identified dietary patterns and multivariate logistic regression evaluated their associations with MetS.

Population-based Cohort Study of Chronic Diseases in Xinjiang (PCCDX), conducted in 2022.

A total of 3208 individuals from PCCDX (mean age: 53·1 (sd 10·8) years; 49·1 % male).

MetS was diagnosed in 1762 participants (54·9 %). Four distinct dietary patterns were identified, with the refined grain-animal products dietary pattern being the dominant one. After adjusting for general demographic and lifestyle factors, a higher score in the refined grain-animal product pattern was associated with an increased risk of MetS. The OR for the second, third and fourth quartiles of the dietary score were 1·07 (95 % CI: 0·860, 1·322), 1·14 (0·923, 1·413) and 1·48 (1·189, 1·853), with a statistically significant trend (P = 0·003). Higher dietary scores in this pattern were also associated with increased risks of elevated waist circumference, high TAG and low HDL cholesterol (P < 0·05). Mediation analysis showed that visceral fat percentage partially mediated the association between the refined grain-animal product dietary pattern and low HDL-cholesterol, accounting for 17·2 % of the total effect (indirect effect = 0·005, P = 0·006). The other three dietary patterns showed no significant associations with MetS or its components.

This study highlights the high prevalence of MetS in western China and links a refined grains-animal products diet to poorer metabolic health, emphasising the need for region-specific dietary strategies.