The role of dietary patterns in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome in adolescents

The increasing worldwide trend in childhood obesity is a driving force behind the increase in metabolic syndrome (MetS) in adolescents. Although there is no clear definition of the pediatric MetS, it is very common among adolescents, characterized by insulin resistance (IR), dyslipidemia, abdominal obesity, and hypertension—all associated with a high risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and CVD in adulthood. The role of nutritional factors, especially dietary patterns, in the development of obesity and MetS is explored. Also, the evidence that proinflammatory stressors may predispose to obesity-induced insulin resistance is reviewed. The present article examines the notion that decreasing nutritional risk factors in dietary patterns and reducing the impact of metabolic and inflammatory stressors may reduce the adverse health effects of obesity and slow the progression towards the MetS and CVD in adolescents. Evidence from pediatric dietary epidemiological and interventional studies that have investigated the potential preventive and therapeutic effects of dietary patterns modification is limited. The present article reviews the current knowledge about the effects of dietary patterns in the pathogenesis and progression of MetS in adolescents.