Cardiometabolic Effects of Traditional South Asian Diets and the Growing Burden of Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is defined as a set of metabolic abnormalities that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. South Asians are at a disproportionately high risk for metabolic syndrome due to their genetic profile as well as lifestyle and cultural factors. One main lifestyle factor adding to their increased prevalence is their dietary patterns, which include many high-risk food items like refined carbohydrates, oils, and saturated fats. These dietary components are interconnected with their cardiometabolic profiles which can lead to increasingly adverse outcomes across future South Asian generations. This paper evaluates the intricate relationship between metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease, specifically focusing on the dietary components that drive disease progression. Furthermore, this paper examines the protective cardiometabolic elements already inherent to the regional diet, exploring how traditional South Asian dietary patterns can be strategically modified to optimize preventive care. Ultimately, this review stresses the need for individually tailored, culturally centered dietary interventions to optimize preventive care and mitigate the metabolic burden in both native and diaspora South Asian communities.