Objective: This study evaluated the effects of a 12-month dietary modification on indices of inflammation and pro-thrombosis
in adults with metabolic syndrome (MS).
Materials and methods: This longitudinal study involved 252 adults with MS recruited from the Bodija market, Ibadan and its
environs. Participants were placed on 20%, 30% and 50% calories obtained from protein, total fat and carbohydrate respectively
and were followed up monthly for 12 months. Anthropometry and blood pressure were measured using standard methods. Fasting
plasma glucose (FPG), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), fibrinogen,
plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)], interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were measured using spectrophotometric
methods and ELISA as appropriate. Data was analysed using ANCOVA, Student’s t-test, Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon
signed-rank tests. P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant.
Results: After 6 months of dietary modification, there was a significant reduction in waist circumference (WC), while the levels
of HDL-C, fibrinogen and PAI-1 were significantly increased when compared with the corresponding baseline values. However,
WC and fibrinogen reduced significantly, while HDL-C and IL-10 significantly increased after 12 months of dietary modification
as compared with the respective baseline values.
Conclusion: Long-term regular dietary modification may be beneficial in ameliorating inflammation and pro-thrombosis in
metabolic syndrome.