Macronutrient intake and physical activity levels in individuals with and without metabolic syndrome: An observational study in an urban population

BACKGROUND: We aimed to compare dietary macronutrient intake and physical activity level (PAL) between community-based samples of Iranian adults with metabolic syndrome (MetS+) and without metabolic syndrome (MetS-).METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among ۳۸۰۰ men and women aged ۳۵-۶۵ years. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria were used to define MetS. A ۲۴-hour recall was used to evaluate dietary intake. The James and Schofield human energy requirements equations were used to calculate PAL and questions were categorized into time spent on activities during work (including housework), during non-work time, and in bed.RESULTS: The mean ± standard deviation (SD)age of the MetS+ and MetS- subjects was, respectively, ۴۸.۸ ± ۷.۸ years (۵۲۱ men and ۱۱۷۸ women) and ۴۷.۶ ± ۷.۵ years (۷۱۴ men and ۱۲۲۲ women) (P = ۰.۹۳۰). The mean energy intake was higher in the MetS+ men compared with MetS- men (۱۹۷۷.۴ ± ۲۶.۶ vs. ۱۸۱۲.۷ ± ۲۱.۷ Kcal; P < ۰.۰۰۱). Crude and energy-adjusted intake from total fat was lower in MetS+ women compared with MetS- women (both P < ۰.۰۱۰). PALs were lower in MetS+ compared with MetS- participants (P < ۰.۰۰۱). After adjusting for confounders, no significant association was observed between the intake of individual macronutrients and MetS. In contrast, PAL was inversely associated with the incidence of MetS [OR = ۰.۳۴ (۹۵% CI: ۰.۱۷-۰.۵۷); P < ۰.۰۰۱].CONCLUSION: In the current study, there was an inverse relationship between PAL and the risk of MetS, but no association between individual dietary macronutrients intake and the incidence of MetS. 

Keywords:

Nutritional Assessment , Basal Metabolic Rate , Physical Activity