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Mediterranean Diet Inversely Associated With the Incidence of Metabolic Syndrome

There is some evidence of the beneficial role of food patterns and lifestyles on metabolic syndrome (1,2). The Mediterranean food pattern (MFP) has acquired an emerging role in cardiovascular epidemiology (3). It is characterized by a high consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, moderate alcohol intake, a moderate-to-low consumption of dairy products and meats/meat products, and a high monounsaturated–to–saturated fat ratio. Although some cross-sectional studies have suggested that the MFP (or some of its components) may reduce the incidence of the metabolic syndrome (1,4), there are no prospective studies assessing this association.

Our aim was to prospectively assess the relationship between adherence to the MFP and the subsequent development of metabolic syndrome in the Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra (SUN) dynamic cohort, composed of Spanish university graduates followed up for 6 years (5).

The SUN Study uses methodology similar to that of large American cohorts (6), but recruitment is permanently open (it is designed as a dynamic cohort). Baseline assessment of participants consists of a self-administered questionnaire sent by postal mail, gathering information on lifestyle factors and including a 136-item validated food frequency questionnaire (7). Biennially mailed follow-up questionnaires are used to collect a wide variety of information about diet, lifestyle, and medical conditions (5).

Among the 18,000 graduates currently participating in the SUN cohort, 5,360 members were recruited …