Short-term nutritional counseling reduces body mass index, waist circumference, triceps skinfold and triglycerides in women with metabolic syndrome.
BACKGROUND
It is recognized that the growing epidemic of metabolic syndrome is related to dietary and lifestyle changes.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate short-term application of nutritional counseling in women with metabolic syndrome.


METHODS
This follow-up study was conducted from September to November 2008 with thirty three women > or =35 years old screened clinically for nutritional counseling. Dietary intake was reported, and biochemical and body composition measures were taken at baseline and after three months of follow-up.


RESULTS
Of the 33 women evaluated, 29 patients completed the study. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity was high at 38%, 72.4%, 55.2%, and 75.8%, respectively. At the end of three-months of follow-up, a significant decline in body mass index, waist circumference, triceps skinfold, and triglycerides was observed, as was an increase in calcium and vitamin D intake. The multiple regression analysis showed that changes in body mass index, triceps skinfold, waist circumference and triglyceride levels after nutritional intervention were positively associated with changes in anthropometric (loss of body weight) and biochemical (decrease of TG/HDL-c ratio) parameters. Moreover, waist circumference changes were negatively associated with changes in calcium and vitamin D intake.


CONCLUSIONS
Short-term nutritional counseling improved some factors of metabolic syndrome. Moreover, the increases in calcium and vitamin D consumption can be associated with the improvement in markers of metabolic syndrome.
Pimentel
Gustavo D
GD
Department of Physiology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo/SP, Brazil.
Arimura
Silvia T
ST
de Moura
Bruno M
BM
Silva
Maria E R
ME
de Sousa
Maysa V
MV