title: Fish consumption is inversely associated with the metabolic syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although fish consumption has inversely been associated with several metabolic abnormalities, limited and inconsistent data have reported the relationship between fish consumption and metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to identify the association between fish consumption and metabolic syndrome and its components.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study conducted on 420 Iranian female adults, usual fish consumption was assessed using a dish-based semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Fasting blood samples were taken for biochemical assessment. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were carried out according to standard protocols. Metabolic syndrome was defined based on the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines. Multivariate logistic regression adjusted for lifestyle and dietary variables was applied to assess fish-metabolic syndrome association.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 8.2%. Mean daily intake of fish was 14.4 g per day. Individuals in the highest tertile of fish intake were 65% less likely to have the metabolic syndrome than those in the lowest tertile (odds ratio: 0.35; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.14-0.88). Controlling for potential confounders and dietary variables strengthened this association (odds ratio: 0.05; 95% CI: 0.004-0.64). After adjustment for potential cofounders, high fish intake was inversely associated with hypertriglyceridemia (odds ratio: 0.11; 95% CI: 0.01-0.85), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (odds ratio: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.19-0.89) and elevated blood pressure (odds ratio: 0.23; 95% CI: 0.14-0.89).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that increased fish intake was independently related to the lower odds of metabolic syndrome and its features. Further prospective investigations are warranted to confirm this association.
authors.affiliation: Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zaribaf
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, School of Health and Nutrition, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Falahi
authors.affiliation: Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barak
authors.affiliation: Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heidari
authors.affiliation: 1] Integrative Functional Gastroenterology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran [2] Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Keshteli
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yazdannik
authors.affiliation: 1] Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran [2] Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esmaillzadeh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009043:Motor Activity; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D017747:Seafood; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides