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Nutrition & Diabetes Nov 2020At present, the beneficial effect of the ketogenic diet (KD) on weight loss in obese patients is generally recognized. However, a systematic research on the role of KD... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
At present, the beneficial effect of the ketogenic diet (KD) on weight loss in obese patients is generally recognized. However, a systematic research on the role of KD in the improvement of glycemic and lipid metabolism of patients with diabetes is still found scarce.
METHODS
This meta-study employed the meta-analysis model of random effects or of fixed effects to analyze the average difference before and after KD and the corresponding 95% CI, thereby evaluating the effect of KD on T2DM.
RESULTS
After KD intervention, in terms of glycemic control, the level of fasting blood glucose decreased by 1.29 mmol/L (95% CI: -1.78 to -0.79) on average, and glycated hemoglobin A1c by 1.07 (95% CI: -1.37 to -0.78). As for lipid metabolism, triglyceride was decreased by 0.72 (95% CI: -1.01 to -0.43) on average, total cholesterol by 0.33 (95% CI: -0.66 to -0.01), and low-density lipoprotein by 0.05 (95% CI: -0.25 to -0.15); yet, high-density lipoprotein increased by 0.14 (95% CI: 0.03-0.25). In addition, patients' weight decreased by 8.66 (95% CI: -11.40 to -5.92), waist circumference by 9.17 (95% CI: -10.67 to -7.66), and BMI by 3.13 (95% CI: -3.31 to -2.95).
CONCLUSION
KD not only has a therapeutic effect on glycemic and lipid control among patients with T2DM but also significantly contributes to their weight loss.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Blood Glucose; Body Mass Index; Cholesterol; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Diet, Ketogenic; Female; Glycated Hemoglobin; Glycemic Control; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Lipid Metabolism; Lipids; Male; Middle Aged; Triglycerides; Waist Circumference; Weight Loss
PubMed: 33257645
DOI: 10.1038/s41387-020-00142-z -
Nutrients Aug 2020Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is characterised by chronic widespread pain alongside fatigue, poor sleep quality and numerous comorbidities. It is estimated to have a...
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is characterised by chronic widespread pain alongside fatigue, poor sleep quality and numerous comorbidities. It is estimated to have a worldwide prevalence of 1.78%, with a predominance in females. Treatment interventions for fibromyalgia have limited success, leading to many patients seeking alternative forms of treatment, including modifications to their diet and lifestyle. The effectiveness of dietary changes in fibromyalgia has not been widely researched or evaluated. This systematic review identified twenty-two studies, including 18 randomised control trials (RCTs) and four cohort studies which were eligible for inclusion. In total these studies investigated 17 different nutritional interventions. Significant improvements in reported pain were observed for those following a vegan diet, as well as with the low fermentable oligo di-mono-saccharides and polyols (FODMAP) diets. Supplementation with green algae, coenzyme Q10, acetyl-l-carnitine or a combination of vitamin C and E significantly improved measures of pain. Interpretation of these studies was limited due to the frequent poor quality of the study design, the wide heterogeneity between studies, the small sample size and a high degree of bias. Therefore, there is insufficient evidence to recommend any one particular nutritional intervention for the management of fibromyalgia and further research is needed.
Topics: Acetylcarnitine; Ascorbic Acid; Chlorella; Diet, Vegan; Dietary Supplements; Fermented Foods; Fibromyalgia; Humans; Nigella sativa; Pain; Phytotherapy; Quality of Life; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Seeds; Treatment Outcome; Ubiquinone; Vitamin E
PubMed: 32878326
DOI: 10.3390/nu12092664 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Jan 2022Debates on effective and safe diets for managing obesity in adults are ongoing. Low-carbohydrate weight-reducing diets (also known as 'low-carb diets') continue to be... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Debates on effective and safe diets for managing obesity in adults are ongoing. Low-carbohydrate weight-reducing diets (also known as 'low-carb diets') continue to be widely promoted, marketed and commercialised as being more effective for weight loss, and healthier, than 'balanced'-carbohydrate weight-reducing diets.
OBJECTIVES
To compare the effects of low-carbohydrate weight-reducing diets to weight-reducing diets with balanced ranges of carbohydrates, in relation to changes in weight and cardiovascular risk, in overweight and obese adults without and with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
SEARCH METHODS
We searched MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase (Ovid), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science Core Collection (Clarivate Analytics), ClinicalTrials.gov and WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) up to 25 June 2021, and screened reference lists of included trials and relevant systematic reviews. Language or publication restrictions were not applied.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in adults (18 years+) who were overweight or living with obesity, without or with T2DM, and without or with cardiovascular conditions or risk factors. Trials had to compare low-carbohydrate weight-reducing diets to balanced-carbohydrate (45% to 65% of total energy (TE)) weight-reducing diets, have a weight-reducing phase of 2 weeks or longer and be explicitly implemented for the primary purpose of reducing weight, with or without advice to restrict energy intake. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently screened titles and abstracts and full-text articles to determine eligibility; and independently extracted data, assessed risk of bias using RoB 2 and assessed the certainty of the evidence using GRADE. We stratified analyses by participants without and with T2DM, and by diets with weight-reducing phases only and those with weight-reducing phases followed by weight-maintenance phases. Primary outcomes were change in body weight (kg) and the number of participants per group with weight loss of at least 5%, assessed at short- (three months to < 12 months) and long-term (≥ 12 months) follow-up.
MAIN RESULTS
We included 61 parallel-arm RCTs that randomised 6925 participants to either low-carbohydrate or balanced-carbohydrate weight-reducing diets. All trials were conducted in high-income countries except for one in China. Most participants (n = 5118 randomised) did not have T2DM. Mean baseline weight across trials was 95 kg (range 66 to 132 kg). Participants with T2DM were older (mean 57 years, range 50 to 65) than those without T2DM (mean 45 years, range 22 to 62). Most trials included men and women (42/61; 3/19 men only; 16/19 women only), and people without baseline cardiovascular conditions, risk factors or events (36/61). Mean baseline diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol across trials were within normal ranges. The longest weight-reducing phase of diets was two years in participants without and with T2DM. Evidence from studies with weight-reducing phases followed by weight-maintenance phases was limited. Most trials investigated low-carbohydrate diets (> 50 g to 150 g per day or < 45% of TE; n = 42), followed by very low (≤ 50 g per day or < 10% of TE; n = 14), and then incremental increases from very low to low (n = 5). The most common diets compared were low-carbohydrate, balanced-fat (20 to 35% of TE) and high-protein (> 20% of TE) treatment diets versus control diets balanced for the three macronutrients (24/61). In most trials (45/61) the energy prescription or approach used to restrict energy intake was similar in both groups. We assessed the overall risk of bias of outcomes across trials as predominantly high, mostly from bias due to missing outcome data. Using GRADE, we assessed the certainty of evidence as moderate to very low across outcomes. Participants without and with T2DM lost weight when following weight-reducing phases of both diets at the short (range: 12.2 to 0.33 kg) and long term (range: 13.1 to 1.7 kg). In overweight and obese participants without T2DM: low-carbohydrate weight-reducing diets compared to balanced-carbohydrate weight-reducing diets (weight-reducing phases only) probably result in little to no difference in change in body weight over three to 8.5 months (mean difference (MD) -1.07 kg, (95% confidence interval (CI) -1.55 to -0.59, I = 51%, 3286 participants, 37 RCTs, moderate-certainty evidence) and over one to two years (MD -0.93 kg, 95% CI -1.81 to -0.04, I = 40%, 1805 participants, 14 RCTs, moderate-certainty evidence); as well as change in DBP and LDL cholesterol over one to two years. The evidence is very uncertain about whether there is a difference in the number of participants per group with weight loss of at least 5% at one year (risk ratio (RR) 1.11, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.31, I = 17%, 137 participants, 2 RCTs, very low-certainty evidence). In overweight and obese participants with T2DM: low-carbohydrate weight-reducing diets compared to balanced-carbohydrate weight-reducing diets (weight-reducing phases only) probably result in little to no difference in change in body weight over three to six months (MD -1.26 kg, 95% CI -2.44 to -0.09, I= 47%, 1114 participants, 14 RCTs, moderate-certainty evidence) and over one to two years (MD -0.33 kg, 95% CI -2.13 to 1.46, I= 10%, 813 participants, 7 RCTs, moderate-certainty evidence); as well in change in DBP, HbA1c and LDL cholesterol over 1 to 2 years. The evidence is very uncertain about whether there is a difference in the number of participants per group with weight loss of at least 5% at one to two years (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.68 to 1.20, I = 0%, 106 participants, 2 RCTs, very low-certainty evidence). Evidence on participant-reported adverse effects was limited, and we could not draw any conclusions about these. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is probably little to no difference in weight reduction and changes in cardiovascular risk factors up to two years' follow-up, when overweight and obese participants without and with T2DM are randomised to either low-carbohydrate or balanced-carbohydrate weight-reducing diets.
Topics: Adult; Body Weight; Carbohydrates; Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted; Energy Intake; Female; Heart Disease Risk Factors; Humans; Male
PubMed: 35088407
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD013334.pub2 -
Nutrition Reviews Apr 2022It has been suggested that a gluten-free and casein-free (GFCF) diet may alleviate the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and facilitate neurodevelopment of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
CONTEXT
It has been suggested that a gluten-free and casein-free (GFCF) diet may alleviate the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and facilitate neurodevelopment of children with ASD. Studies to date have been inconclusive.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate (through quantitative meta-analysis) the efficacy and safety of a GFCF diet for children with ASD. To our knowledge, this is the first time such an analysis has been carried out.
DATA SOURCES
Eight electronic databases were searched, from the establishment of each database up to March 27, 2020: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP databases.
DATA EXTRACTION
Two authors independently performed the data extraction and risk-of-bias assessment.
DATA ANALYSIS
A quantitative meta-analysis was performed with standard procedures by using Stata SE 15 software. Within the total of 8 studies, with 297 participants, 5 studies reported significant reductions in stereotypical behaviors [standard mean difference (SMD) = -0.41, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.68 to -0.15], and 3 studies reported improvements in cognition (SMD = -0.46, 95% CI: -0.91 to -0.01) following GFCF dietary intervention . No statistically significant changes were observed in other symptomatic categories (all P > 0.05).
CONCLUSION
The current meta-analysis showed that a GFCF diet can reduce stereotypical behaviors and improve the cognition of children with ASD. Though most of the included studies were single-blind, the benefits of a GFCF diet that have been indicated are promising. Additional studies on a larger scale are warranted.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
PROSPERO registration no. CRD42020177619.
Topics: Autism Spectrum Disorder; Caseins; Child; Diet, Gluten-Free; Humans; Single-Blind Method
PubMed: 34617108
DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuab073 -
Clinical Nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) Sep 2022Lifestyle interventions that focus on reduced energy intake and improved dietary pattern are the mainstay of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) management.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND & AIMS
Lifestyle interventions that focus on reduced energy intake and improved dietary pattern are the mainstay of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) management. However, it remains unclear which dietary approaches are most beneficial and promote greatest adherence. We aimed to synthesise data from randomised and clinical controlled trials, describing the effects of Mediterranean Diet and Calorie Restriction interventions on NAFLD surrogate markers, in adults.
METHODS
We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (October 2021). Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's tools: risk of bias for randomised controlled trials, and risk of bias in non-randomised studies of interventions. Meta-analyses were performed using a random effects model, and the I statistic was used to assess heterogeneity.
RESULTS
Of 4041 records identified, 26 articles with 3037 participants met the inclusion criteria, including studies on calorie-restricted interventions (CRI) (n 9), Mediterranean diet (MD) interventions (n 13) and MD component interventions (n 4). Studies were heterogeneous regarding intervention components, assessment of liver status and diet outcomes. 3 studies reported zero attrition and mean attrition rate for the remaining 23 studies was 14%. Post-intervention meta-analyses revealed that dietary interventions reduced alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (P < 0.001), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (P = 0.004), Fatty Liver Index (FLI) (P < 0.001), hepatic steatosis (HS) (P = 0.02), and liver stiffness (P = 0.01). CRI had favourable effects on ALT (P < 0.001), HS (P < 0.001) and liver stiffness (P = 0.009). MD reduced ALT (P = 0.02), FLI (P < 0.001) and liver stiffness (P = 0.05). There was a dose-response relationship between degree of calorie restriction and beneficial effects on liver function and weight loss, suggesting that this approach should remain the cornerstone of NAFLD management. In addition, diet composition changes have potential for improving NAFLD and the limited data suggest that MD may be an effective diet therapy.
CONCLUSION
These results support the current guidelines in NAFLD. However, further studies, which robustly evaluate the effects of interventions on dietary intake, acceptability and sustainability of the interventions, and quality of life and other patient-related outcomes are needed to support effective care delivery.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Caloric Restriction; Diet, Mediterranean; Life Style; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Quality of Life; Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic
PubMed: 35947894
DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2022.06.037 -
Journal of the American Heart... Oct 2020Background Nonpharmacologic interventions that modify lifestyle can lower blood pressure (BP) and have been assessed in numerous randomized controlled trials and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Background Nonpharmacologic interventions that modify lifestyle can lower blood pressure (BP) and have been assessed in numerous randomized controlled trials and pairwise meta-analyses. It is still unclear which intervention would be most efficacious. Methods and Results Bayesian network meta-analyses were performed to estimate the comparative effectiveness of different interventions for lowering BP. From 60 166 potentially relevant articles, 120 eligible articles (14 923 participants) with a median follow-up of 12 weeks, assessing 22 nonpharmacologic interventions, were included. According to the surface under the cumulative ranking probabilities and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) quality of evidence, for adults with prehypertension to established hypertension, high-quality evidence indicated that the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) was superior to usual care and all other nonpharmacologic interventions in lowering systolic BP (weighted mean difference, 6.97 mm Hg; 95% credible interval, 4.50-9.47) and diastolic BP (weighted mean difference, 3.54 mm Hg; 95% credible interval, 1.80-5.28). Compared with usual care, moderate- to high-quality evidence indicated that aerobic exercise, isometric training, low-sodium and high-potassium salt, comprehensive lifestyle modification, breathing-control, and meditation could lower systolic BP and diastolic BP. For patients with hypertension, moderate- to high-quality evidence suggested that the interventions listed (except comprehensive lifestyle modification) were associated with greater systolic BP and diastolic BP reduction than usual care; salt restriction was also effective in lowering both systolic BP and diastolic BP. Among overweight and obese participants, low-calorie diet and low-calorie diet plus exercise could lower more BP than exercise. Conclusions DASH might be the most effective intervention in lowering BP for adults with prehypertension to established hypertension. Aerobic exercise, isometric training, low-sodium and high-potassium salt, comprehensive lifestyle modification, salt restriction, breathing-control, meditation and low-calorie diet also have obvious effects on BP reduction.
Topics: Comparative Effectiveness Research; Diet Therapy; Diet, Sodium-Restricted; Exercise; Humans; Hypertension; Prehypertension; Risk Reduction Behavior
PubMed: 32975166
DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.120.016804 -
Advances in Nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) Sep 2016A growing body of evidence suggests that adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) may protect against cognitive decline and dementia. Many epidemiologic studies and... (Review)
Review
A growing body of evidence suggests that adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) may protect against cognitive decline and dementia. Many epidemiologic studies and several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have found positive effects of the MD on cognitive function, but findings remain inconsistent. The aim of this systematic review was to provide an update on the current knowledge of the effects of the MD on cognitive function, cognitive impairment, Alzheimer disease (AD), and all-type dementia. Five databases were searched-PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, CENTRAL, and PsycINFO (1806 to 25 May 2015)-with the use of prespecified criteria. Human studies that were published in English without any restriction on study type, population assessed, intervention period, follow-up time, or publication date, and that examined the association between adherence to the MD and cognitive function or dementia symptoms (as measured by cognitive function tests), were included. Only primary publication types were included. Thirty-two studies from 25 unique cohorts, including 5 RCTs and 27 observational studies, met the inclusion criteria. The majority of studies showed that the MD was associated with improved cognitive function, a decreased risk of cognitive impairment or decreased risk of dementia, or AD. Three studies found no correlation between the MD and AD, 3 further studies found no association between the MD and cognitive impairment, and 5 studies found no association between the MD and cognitive function. There was large heterogeneity, and studies differed with regard to quality. Based on the findings and the limitations in study design, we conclude that adherence to the MD is associated with better cognitive performance. However, it should be noted that the majority of findings come from epidemiologic studies that provide evidence for a correlation between the MD and cognition but not for a cause-and-effect relation. More controlled trials are required to establish a causational relation.
Topics: Alzheimer Disease; Cognition; Cognition Disorders; Dementia; Diet, Mediterranean; Feeding Behavior; Humans
PubMed: 27633105
DOI: 10.3945/an.116.012138 -
Advances in Nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) Nov 2019As there is currently no cure for dementia, there is an urgent need for preventive strategies. The current review provides an overview of the existing evidence examining...
The Mediterranean, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), and Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) Diets Are Associated with Less Cognitive Decline and a Lower Risk of Alzheimer's Disease-A Review.
As there is currently no cure for dementia, there is an urgent need for preventive strategies. The current review provides an overview of the existing evidence examining the associations of the Mediterranean, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), and Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diets and their dietary components with cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease (AD). A systematic search was conducted within Ovid Medline for studies published up to 27 March 2019 and reference lists from existing reviews and select articles were examined to supplement the electronic search results. In total, 56 articles were included. Higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with better cognitive scores in 9 of 12 cross-sectional studies, 17 of 25 longitudinal studies, and 1 of 3 trials. Higher adherence to the DASH diet was associated with better cognitive function in 1 cross-sectional study, 2 of 5 longitudinal studies, and 1 trial. Higher adherence to the MIND diet was associated with better cognitive scores in 1 cross-sectional study and 2 of 3 longitudinal studies. Evidence on the association of these dietary patterns with dementia in general was limited. However, higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with a lower risk of AD in 1 case-control study and 6 of 8 longitudinal studies. Moreover, higher adherence to the DASH or MIND diets was associated with a lower AD risk in 1 longitudinal study. With respect to the components of these dietary patterns, olive oil may be associated with less cognitive decline. In conclusion, current scientific evidence suggests that higher adherence to the Mediterranean, DASH, or MIND diets is associated with less cognitive decline and a lower risk of AD, where the strongest associations are observed for the MIND diet.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alzheimer Disease; Case-Control Studies; Cognitive Dysfunction; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diet, Mediterranean; Dietary Approaches To Stop Hypertension; Female; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; MEDLINE; Male; Middle Aged; Neurodegenerative Diseases
PubMed: 31209456
DOI: 10.1093/advances/nmz054 -
Nutrients Aug 2022During the complementary feeding period, any nutritional deficiencies may negatively impact infant growth and neurodevelopment. A healthy diet containing all essential... (Review)
Review
During the complementary feeding period, any nutritional deficiencies may negatively impact infant growth and neurodevelopment. A healthy diet containing all essential nutrients is strongly recommended by the WHO during infancy. Because vegetarian diets are becoming increasingly popular in many industrialized countries, some parents ask the pediatrician for a vegetarian diet, partially or entirely free of animal-source foods, for their children from an early age. This systematic review aims to evaluate the evidence on how vegetarian complementary feeding impacts infant growth, neurodevelopment, risk of wasted and/or stunted growth, overweight and obesity. The SR was registered with PROSPERO 2021 (CRD 42021273592). A comprehensive search strategy was adopted to search and find all relevant studies. For ethical reasons, there are no interventional studies assessing the impact of non-supplemented vegetarian/vegan diets on the physical and neurocognitive development of children, but there are numerous studies that have analyzed the effects of dietary deficiencies on individual nutrients. Based on current evidence, vegetarian and vegan diets during the complementary feeding period have not been shown to be safe, and the current best evidence suggests that the risk of critical micronutrient deficiencies or insufficiencies and growth retardation is high: they may result in significantly different outcomes in neuropsychological development and growth when compared with a healthy omnivorous diet such as the Mediterranean Diet. There are also no data documenting the protective effect of vegetarian or vegan diets against communicable diseases in children aged 6 months to 2-3 years.
Topics: Animals; Diet, Vegan; Diet, Vegetarian; Eating; Humans; Infant; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Malnutrition; Vegetarians
PubMed: 36079848
DOI: 10.3390/nu14173591 -
Nutrients Oct 2020The Mediterranean diet (MD) may provide metabolic benefits but no systematic review to date has examined its effect on a multitude of outcomes related to metabolic... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
The Mediterranean diet (MD) may provide metabolic benefits but no systematic review to date has examined its effect on a multitude of outcomes related to metabolic health. This systematic review with meta-analysis (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews, PROSPERO; number CRD42019141459) aimed to examine the MD's effect on metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) incidence, components and risk factors (primary outcomes), and incidence and/or mortality from MetSyn-related comorbidities and receipt of pharmacologic treatment for MetSyn components and comorbidities (secondary outcomes). We searched Pubmed, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Web of Science for controlled trials published until June 2019, comparing the MD with no treatment, usual care, or different diets in adults. Studies not published in English and not promoting the whole MD were excluded. Two authors independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane Collaboration's and Risk of Bias in non-randomised studies (ROBINS-I) tools. Reporting followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Random-effects meta-analyses, subgroup analyses and meta-regressions were performed, and heterogeneity was quantified using the I statistic. We identified 2654 reports and included 84 articles reporting 57 trials ( = 36,983). In random effects meta-analyses, the MD resulted in greater beneficial changes in 18 of 28 MetSyn components and risk factors (body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, glucose, insulin, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index, total-, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)- and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, triglycerides, alanine transaminase, hepatic fat mass, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor-a, and flow-mediated dilatation) and lower risk of cardiovascular disease incidence (risk ratio (RR) = 0.61, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.42-0.80; I = 0%), and stroke (RR = 0.67, 95% CI 0.35-0.98; I = 0%). Only six studies reported effects on pharmacotherapy use, and pooled analysis indicated no differences between diet groups. Lack of consistency in comparator groups and other study characteristics across studies resulted in high heterogeneity for some outcomes, which could not be considerably explained by meta-regressions. However, a consistent direction of beneficial effect of the MD was observed for the vast majority of outcomes examined. Findings support MD's beneficial effect on all components and most risk factors of the MetSyn, in addition to cardiovascular disease and stroke incidence. More studies are needed to establish effects on other clinical outcomes and use of pharmacotherapy for MetSyn components and comorbidities. Despite the high levels of heterogeneity for some outcomes, this meta-analysis enabled the comparison of findings across studies and the examination of consistency of effects. The consistent direction of effect, suggesting the MD's benefits on metabolic health, supports the need to promote this dietary pattern to adult populations.
Topics: Adult; Biomarkers; Blood Pressure; Comorbidity; Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; Diet, Mediterranean; Health; Humans; Incidence; Insulin Resistance; Metabolic Syndrome; Metabolism; Oxidative Stress; Risk Factors
PubMed: 33143083
DOI: 10.3390/nu12113342