May 17, 2016
The Journal of Pediatrics
TAKE-HOME MESSAGE
- A cohort of 425 healthy study participants aged 6 to 18 years old was evaluated to examine the relationship between adherence to a DASH-style diet and incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS). There was a linear association seen, with a decreasing risk of developing MetS as adherence to the DASH diet improved. In addition, those with high adherence to the DASH diet had a significantly lower incidence of hypertension, high fasting plasma glucose, and abdominal obesity.
- High adherence to a DASH-style diet in childhood and adolescence reduces the risk of developing MetS.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To assess the association of adherence to Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH)-style diet with development of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in children and adolescents.
STUDY DESIGN
Dietary data were collected using a valid and reliable food frequency questionnaire among 425 healthy subjects, aged 6-18 years. MetS was defined as the presence of at least 3 of the following according to the Cook criteria: waist circumference ≥90th percentile for sex and age according to national reference curves; systolic blood pressure and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90th percentile for sex, age, and height; fasting plasma glucose ≥100 mg/dL; triglycerides ≥110 mg/dL; and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol
RESULTS
Mean ± SD for age and DASH score were 13.6 ± 3.7 years and 24.1 ± 4.3, respectively, at baseline. The OR (95% CI) of developing MetS in the highest, compared with the lowest, quartile of DASH score was 0.36 (0.14-0.94) with a linear decreasing trend (P for trend = .023). Also, incidence of hypertension, high fasting plasma glucose, and abdominal obesity decreased with higher adherence to DASH diet (P < .05 for all).
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate the relationship of adherence to DASH-style diet with MetS and some of its components in both children and adolescents.