OBJECTIVE: Dietary habits have been associated with the prevalence of the 
metabolic syndrome and limited data are available in this field for individuals 
with impaired glucose tolerance. This study focused on the association between 
major dietary patterns and prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in individuals 
with impaired glucose tolerance.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study was done in 425 subjects 35 to 55 y of age. 
Dietary data were collected using a food-frequency questionnaire. Blood 
pressure, waist circumference, glucose, triacylglycerols, and high-density 
lipoprotein cholesterol were measured and metabolic syndrome was defined based 
on Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines.
RESULTS: Five major dietary patterns were found: a western pattern (high in 
sweets, butter, soda, mayonnaise, sugar, cookies, tail of a lamb, hydrogenated 
fat, and eggs), a prudent pattern (high in fish, peas, honey, nuts, juice, dry 
fruits, vegetable oil, liver and organic meat, and coconuts and low in 
hydrogenated fat and non-leafy vegetables), a vegetarian pattern (high in 
potatoes, legumes, fruits rich in vitamin C, rice, green leafy vegetables, and 
fruits rich in vitamin A), a high-fat dairy pattern (high in high-fat yogurt and 
high-fat milk and low in low-fat yogurt, peas, and bread), and a chicken and 
plant pattern (high in chicken, fruits rich in vitamin A, green leafy 
vegetables, and mayonnaise and low in beef, liver, and organic meat). After 
adjusting for confounding variables, the western pattern was associated with 
greater odds of having increased triacylglycerol (odds ratio 1.76, 95% 
confidence interval 1.01-3.07) and blood pressure (odds ratio 2.62, 95% 
confidence interval 1.32-5.23). The prudent pattern was positively associated 
with a prevalence of low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (odds ratio 
0.55, 95% confidence interval 0.31-0.96). The vegetarian dietary pattern was 
inversely associated with a risk of an abnormal fasting blood glucose level 
(odds ratio 2.26, 95% confidence interval 1.25-4.06).
CONCLUSION: Major dietary patterns were significantly associated with the risk 
of metabolic syndrome.