The protective effects of dietary intake of flavonoids and its subclasses on metabolic syndrome incidence

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the association between the intake of total flavonoids and flavonoid subclasses and metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk and to assess the modulating effects of lifestyle factors on these associations. A total of 1915 participants from the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study were followed-up during 2006–2008 and 2016–2018. Their dietary intake was assessed by a food frequency questionnaire at baseline and within three-year intervals afterward. Moreover, the modifying effect of weight gain on the association between total flavonoids and MetS was assessed by Cox regression analysis. Participants in the highest tertile of flavonoid, flavonol, and flavone had a significantly lower MetS risk as compared to those in the lowest tertile. Also, in participants with weight gain <7%, all flavonoid subclasses had a more pronounced risk-reducing effect. Overall, the total flavonoid, flavonol, and flavone reduced the risk of MetS; this association could be modified by weight gain.

Keywords:

• Flavonoids
• metabolic syndrome
• flavonols
• flavones

Acknowledgments

We express our gratitude to the participants of this study for their collaboration.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contributions

S.HN & JH: Contributed to the study conception, design, and drafting of the manuscript. S.HN & JH & E.Y: Contributed to the interpretation of data, data analysis, revising the paper critically, and giving final approval. P.M: Contributed to the interpretation of data, revising the paper critically, and giving final approval. F.A: revising the paper critically and giving final approval. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran [grant number 19478].