Association Between Dietary Monounsaturated Fatty Acid Intake and Metabolic Syndrome Among Korean Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Korea National Health and Examination Survey

TL;DR

This study finds that higher intake of monounsaturated fatty acids is linked to a lower risk of metabolic syndrome in middle-aged Korean adults.

Contribution

The study provides new evidence on the association between MUFA intake and metabolic syndrome risk specifically in the Korean population.

Findings

Middle-aged adults with higher MUFA intake had a lower risk of metabolic syndrome after adjusting for confounders.

No significant association was found between MUFA intake and metabolic syndrome in younger or older adults.

The average MUFA intake among Korean adults was 13.70 g/day.

Abstract

Introduction/Objectives: Although monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) are known as a healthy nutrient, their impact on the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in the Asian population is not fully understood. This study aimed to determine the association between dietary MUFA intake and the prevalence of MetS among Korean adults. Materials and Methods: The 7th Korea National Health and Examination Survey (2016–2018) was analyzed. MetS was defined based on the guideline of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) criteria, and MUFA intake was calculated using a single 24 h dietary recall. Data from 3932 younger adults (19–39 years), 6943 middle-aged adults (40–64 years), and 3942 older adults (≥65 years) were included and multivariable logistic regression models were applied to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Approximately 25.8% of Korean adults showed signs of MetS, and the average MUFA intake was 13.70 g/day. Middle-aged adults with a higher MUFA intake had a lower risk of MetS (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.35–0.78 for men; OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.43–0.99 for women) compared to those with a lower MUFA intake after the adjustment of possible confounding variables, including age, body mass index, total energy intake, household income, alcohol consumption, smoking, aerobic exercise, and energy intake from carbohydrates. No significant associations were observed in younger and older adults. Conclusions: These results suggest that higher dietary MUFA consumption is associated with a lower risk of MetS in middle-aged Korean adults. These findings suggest that including MUFA-rich foods in the diet could be a practical strategy to reduce the burden of MetS in clinical and public heath settings.