Dietary polyphenols and metabolic syndrome among Iranian adults

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between total polyphenol intake, its subclasses (including flavonoids, phenolic acids, stilbenes and lignans), and the metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods: This population-based cross-sectional study was conducted on a representative of 2618 adults, aged 19 to 84 years. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated food-frequency questionnaire and intakes of total polyphenol and four main subclasses of polyphenol including flavonoids, phenolic acids, stilbenes and lignans were determined. Results: Higher consumption of flavonoid intakes was associated with lower odds of enlarged waist circumference, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL cholesterol, hyperglycemia, hypertension and MetS. Subjects in the highest quartile of lignan intakes had higher odds of having hypertriglyceridemia and hyperglycemia. Subjects in the highest quartile of stilbene intakes had higher odds of having hypertension. Conclusion: Intakes of selected subclasses of polyphenol such as flavonoids are associated with a lower prevalence of MetS among Tehranians.

• Cardiovascular disease
• flavonoid intake
• lignan intake
• polyphenol

Acknowledgements

We would like to express our appreciation to the participants in the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study for their enthusiastic support, the staff of the RIES, Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study Unit, for their valuable help. The authors also wish to acknowledge Ms Niloofar Shiva for critical editing of English grammar and syntax of the manuscript.