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# Mediterranean diet helps prevent metabolic syndrome
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/mediterranean_diet_helps_prevent_metabolic_syndrome_0320110121/
- Published: 2011-03-20T14:20:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T15:43:36.000Z
- Description: A Greek meta-analysis of 50 studies covering 534,906 people found closer adherence to the Mediterranean diet linked to lower metabolic syndrome risk, along with smaller waists, higher HDL cholesterol, and lower triglycerides, blood pressure and glucose.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Diet, Nutrition, Mediterranean Diet, Metabolic Syndrome, #vivvo-import

Researchers at University of Ioannina in Ioannina, Greece meta-analyzed previous studies and found Mediterranean diet was associated with lower risk of metabolic syndrome.

The study led by Kastorini C.M. and colleagues was based on data from 35 clinical trials, 2 prospective and 13 cross-sectional studies published prior to April 30, 2010 involving 534,906 participants.

Both prospective studies and clinical trials showed adherence to Mediterranean diet was correlated with reduced risk of metabolic syndrome.

Clinical trials and epidemiological studies also revealed that Mediterranean diet was associated with smaller wast circumference, higher levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and lower levels of triglycerides, lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and glucose

The results of the meta-analysis were published in the March 15, 2011 issue of Journal of American College of Cardiology.

Mediterranean diet has been linked to a reduced risk of a range of other diseases including depression, inflammation, premature death, diabetes, birth defect, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, obesity/overweight to name a few.

The Mediterranean diet consists of large quantities of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and moderate amounts of olive oil, nuts, poultry and fish with no more than half the daily intake of calories from carbohydrates.

David Liu