Association between alternate Mediterranean diet (aMED) and metabolic syndrome in Iranian elderly

Background: Some food patterns and lifestyles have beneficial effects on diminution of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) components. Alternate Mediterranean Diet (aMED) because of its contents may have potential protective impacts against the risk of developing the metabolic syndrome in elderly people. Our aim was to assess the association between aMED and MetS components in Iranian elderly. Methods: 226 healthy elderly people (65 men and 161 women) with a mean age of 67.04 years participated in this cross-sectional study in five districts of Tehran, the capital of Iran during the period 20014-20015. MetS was defined based on the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Dietary intakes were assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) that included 147 items. The Alternate Mediterranean dietary score was calculated by Fung et al. Method. Logistic and linear regression models were used to derive beta estimates and odds ratios (ORs). Results: Subjects in the top tertile of aMED had 56% lower chance of MetS compared with subjects in the bottom tertile (OR 0·46; 95% CI 0·23, 0·94; P trend=0.033). After adjustment for potential confounders such as age, energy intake, physical activity, marital status, smoking, education, income this association was strengthened (OR 0·34; 95% CI 0·14, 0·82; P trend=0.017). Also, it was observed that people in the highest tertile of the aMED score had 68% lower odds of high triglycerides compared with those in the lowest tertile (OR 0·42; 95% CI 0·20, 0·91; P trend=0.033). Conclusion: Our study showed a higher adherence to the aMED reduced the risk of the MetS in the elderly subjects.