Metabolic syndrome is one of the most known risk factors of cardiovascular disease. The aim of the current study was to investigate relationships between major dietary patterns and cardio-metabolic risk factors in patients with metabolic syndrome.

This cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with metabolic syndrome. All of the participants underwent anthropometric and blood pressure measurements. Biochemical assessments including serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), fating serum glucose (FSG), serum lipids, insulin and adiponectin concentrations were performed by enzymatic methods. Dietary patterns were obtained by factor analysis procedure using principal component method. Nutrient intakes were analyzed by a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ).

Four major dietary patterns including healthy, meats and fats, sweets, potatoes and refined grains were extracted in the current study. Higher healthy pattern score was in relation with higher concentrations of AST and lower systolic blood pressure. Lower diastolic blood pressure and higher serum triglyceride concentrations were also observed in upper quintiles of meat and fats pattern (P<0.05). Upper quintile of sweet pattern was accompanied with higher serum FSG and insulin concentrations (P<0.05).

The independent associations between dietary patterns and blood pressure and serum lipids further support the protective role of healthy diet with fruits, vegetables and fish as predominant food items and an un-favorable effect of unhealthy diets with meat, fats and sweets as major ingredients.