A Mediterranean-style low-glycemic-load diet improves variables of metabolic syndrome in women, and addition of a phytochemical-rich medical food enhances benefits on lipoprotein metabolism

Jones, Jennifer L.; Fernandez, Maria Luz; McIntosh, Mark S.; Najm, Wadie; Calle, Mariana C.; Kalynych, Colleen; Vukich, Clare; Barona, Jacqueline; Ackermann, Daniela; Kim, Jung Eun; Kumar, Vivek; Lott, Michelle; Volek, Jeff S.; Lerman, Robert H.

doi:10.1016/j.jacl.2011.03.002

« Previous Next »Journal of Clinical Lipidology
Volume 5, Issue 3 , Pages 188-196, May 2011

A Mediterranean-style low-glycemic-load diet improves variables of metabolic syndrome in women, and addition of a phytochemical-rich medical food enhances benefits on lipoprotein metabolism

Jennifer L. Jones, PhD
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
Maria Luz Fernandez, PhD
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
- Corresponding author.
Mark S. McIntosh, MD
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
Wadie Najm, MD
- Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
Mariana C. Calle, PhD
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
Colleen Kalynych, MSH, EdD
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
Clare Vukich, PhD
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
Jacqueline Barona, MS
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
Daniela Ackermann, MS
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
Jung Eun Kim, MS
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
Vivek Kumar, MD
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
Michelle Lott, BS
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
Jeff S. Volek, PhD, RD
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
Robert H. Lerman, MD, PhD
- Metagenics Inc., Gig Harbor, WA, USA

Received 19 January 2011; accepted 5 March 2011. published online 14 March 2011.

Background

The high prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) has highlighted the need for effective dietary interventions to combat this growing problem.

Objective

To assess the impact of a Mediterranean-style low-glycemic-load diet (control arm, n = 44) or the same diet plus a medical food containing phytosterols, soy protein, and extracts from hops and acacia (intervention arm, n = 45) on cardiometabolic risk variables in women with MetS.

Methods

In this 12-week, 2-arm randomized trial, baseline, week 8 and 12, fasting blood samples were drawn to measure plasma lipids, apolipoproteins, and homocysteine. Dietary records were also collected and analyzed.

Results

There were decreases in fat and sugar intake (P < .001 for both) and increases in docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid intake (P < .001 for both) over time, consistent with the prescribed diet. Regarding MetS variables, there were decreases in waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and plasma triglycerides in all subjects (P < .001 for all) with no differences between arms. Plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein (apo) B, and apo B/apo A1 were reduced over time but to a greater extent in the intervention arm (P < .05 for all), indicating the medical food had a greater effect in altering lipoprotein metabolism. Further, medical food intake was associated with reduced plasma homocysteine (P < .01) compared to the control arm.

Conclusion

A Mediterranean-style low-glycemic-load diet effectively reduces the variables of MetS. Addition of the medical food results in a less atherogenic lipoprotein profile and lower plasma homocysteine.

Keywords: Metabolic syndrome, Mediterranean diet, Glycemic load, Phytosterols, Apolipoproteins, Homocysteine