Signature of healthy diet

How is yogurt consumption related to the risk of Metabolic Syndrome?

yogurt and strawberries

New research in Spain found an inverse association between high, yogurt and fruit combined consumption and the development of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). Yogurt consumption is also inversely associated with central adiposity, one of the five MetS criteria.

MetS is known as a combination of metabolic abnormalities (low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hypertriglyceridemia, high blood pressure, impaired glucose metabolism and central adiposity) that can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes over time. The incidence of this condition has grown worldwide (around 25%) because of increased obesity and sedentary lifestyles.

A cohort study in Spain with 8,063 participants free of MetS was set up to assess the association between total, whole-fat and low-fat yogurt consumption and the risk of MetS. After 6 years, the follow up conducted 306 incidences of MetS. Frequent yogurt consumption has a non-significant inverse association with MetS.

Mix yogurt and fruit

However, total and whole fat yogurt consumption was significantly associated with a 15% reduced risk of central adiposity (one of the parameters of MetS). More interestingly, yogurt and fruit consumption can protect against the risk of overweight : a combined exposure of high yogurt consumption (more than 7 portions/week) and high fruit consumption (more than 265g/day) is significantly associated with a lower risk of  developing MetS (-39%).

The authors concluded that high consumption of both yogurt and fruit exhibit a significantly lower risk of MetS compared to low consumption.

Source: Carmen Sayón-Orea1 BMC Public Health 2015, 15:170  doi:10.1186/s12889-015-1518-7

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