Western diet pattern 'promotes metabolic syndrome'

The high calorie, low fibre dietary pattern associated with the Western diet is associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome, says new research from the US.

The study, published in the journal Circulation, adds to previous studies on that point the finger at the highly processed foods and meats consumed in the Western diet in relation to a range of conditions, from obesity to colorectal cancer.

According to researchers from the University of Minnesota and the University of North Carolina, "the role of diet in the origin of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is not well understood; thus, we sought to evaluate the relationship between incident MetS and dietary intake."

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a condition characterised by central obesity, hypertension, and disturbed glucose and insulin metabolism. The syndrome has been linked to increased risks of both type 2 diabetes and CVD. Fifteen per cent of adult Europeans are estimated to be affected by MetS, while the US statistic is estimated to be a whopping 32 per cent. Obesity is established to be the main risk factor for MetS

Pamela Lutsey and co-workers analysed data from 9514 subjects aged between 45 and 64 participating in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. The subjects completed a 66-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to semi-quantify dietary intakes. According to the intake of 32 food groups, the participants' diets were classified according to their adherence to a "Western" or "prudent" dietary pattern.

The researchers followed the subjects over nine years, during which 3,782 cases of MetS were identified. Lutsey and co-workers state: "Consumption of a Western dietary pattern was adversely associated with incident MetS."

When the researchers adjusted the results to account for the intake of meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables, refined grains, and whole grains, they found that fried foods, diet soft drinks, and meat consumption were also linked to an increase in the risk of developing MetS. On the other hand, an increase in the consumption of dairy products was found to be beneficial. Moreover, contrary to other studies, no benefits were observed for fruits and vegetables, nuts, whole grains, refined grains, or coffee.

"These prospective findings suggest that consumption of a Western dietary pattern, meat, and fried foods promotes the incidence of MetS, whereas dairy consumption provides some protection," wrote the researchers. "The diet soda association was not hypothesized and deserves further study," they added.

The Western dietary pattern has also been blamed by some for the obesity epidemic, particularly in children. Indeed, in August US paediatrician Robert Lustig, MD, from the University of California, San Francisco said that the "toxic environment" of Western diets causes hormonal imbalances that encourage overeating.

Source: Circulation
Published online ahead of print, 22 January 2008, doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.716159
"Dietary Intake and the Development of the Metabolic Syndrome. The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study"
Authors: P.L. Lutsey, L.M. Steffen, J. Stevens

Heart health tops US functional food launches

Food and beverage products targeting cardiovascular and digestive health have shot up in popularity, according to data provided by Mintel.

Information from the group's Global New Products Database (GNPD) reveals that 1333 new functional foods and beverages were launched in the United States over the past five years. During the five-year period, the largest overall increase in new functional foods and beverages was seen in 2007, with the introduction of 558 new products. This compares to 223 in 2006, 208 in 2005, 181 in 2004 and 163 in 2003.

Cardiovascular health

Unsurprisingly, heart health was the functional food category that saw the most product launches last year. GNPD data revealed a massive 244 percent increase in new introductions in this category - from 43 products in 2006 to 148 in 2007. In 2003, only 22 new products were launched in this category, followed by 19 in 2004 and 54 in 2005. The rapid increase in product launches is a clear sign that the food industry is responding to growing concerns on maintaining heart health, as national figures for sufferers of the disease continue to rise - largely a result of an increase in obesity across the country.

Digestive Health

Products designed to maintain a healthy digestive system were also popular last year, with 103 new items launched on the market. This is equivalent to an increase of 134 percent from the previous year, when 44 new products were launched. Perhaps most notable though, is the fact that in 2003 Mintel recorded no products launched in this segment. However, as awareness started to pick up, foods and drinks aimed at maintaining digestive health started to trickle onto the market: four new products were introduced in 2004, and 19 in 2005.

Healthy Brain

The third largest functional food category in terms of new product launches last year was the brain and nervous system. Mintel recorded 61 new items launched in the US last year, compared to 15 in 2006, 14 in 2005, 7 in 2004 and 2 in 2003.

Immune system

This category saw 47 new products last year, compared to 14, 17, 6 and 2 in the four previous years respectively.

Women, beauty and bones

Functional food categories that still remain niche, with relatively few new products introduced include foods with benefits in bone health, those targeting women, and those that claim to deliver beauty benefits. According to GNPD, over the past fives years there were 30, 29 and 25 new products launched in these categories respectively.

Data source: Mintel's Global New Product Database (GNPD)

by Lorraine Heller, 13 Feb 2008