Diet and Health in Adults With Metabolic Syndrome
Diet and Health in Adults With Metabolic Syndrome
The prevalence of US adults with Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is over 34%, impacting nearly 35%
 of all adults and 50% of those aged 60 years or older. MetS is characterized as a combination
 of underlying risk factors that when, occurring together, increase the risk for chronic
 diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cardiovascular disease, stroke, and certain
 types of cancer, resulting in an 1.6-fold increase in mortality. According the American Heart
 Association, health risks associated with Metabolic Syndrome can be significantly reduced by
 reducing body weight and eating a diet that is rich in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
 Potatoes (e.g. skin-on white potatoes) are an excellent source of potassium, vitamin C, and
 vitamin B6 and a good source of magnesium and dietary fiber. In addition, the potato has
 greater dry matter and protein per unit growing area compared with cereals. Despite this,
 consumers tend to believe that potatoes are high in calories and in fat compared with other
 carbohydrate sources such as rice or pasta, an incorrect assumption since a potato has
 negligible fat and a low energy density similar to legumes. Data from short-term nutrition
 intervention trials, suggest that potatoes consumed as part of a low-glycemic load meal can
 play a role in the prevention or treatment of MetS. However, the impact of long-term potato
 consumption on cardiometabolic risk factors associated with MetS is not known. Therefore,
 there is a critical need to determine if regular (> 4 times per week) potato consumption can
 improve cardiometabolic health in individuals with MetS.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Resides in Northwest Arkansas

 -  Age 18+ years

 -  Metabolic Syndrome (characterized by participant having three or more of the following
 measurements: abdominal obesity, triglyceride level over 150 mg/dl, HDL cholesterol <
 40 mg/dl in men and 50 mg/dl in women, systolic blood pressure of 130 mm Hg or
 diastolic blood pressure of 85 mm Hg, and/or fasting glucose > 100 mg/dL)

 -  All ethnicities

 -  Female and male

 -  Currently consuming a high glycemic load diet

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Food allergies

 -  Dietary restrictions (e.g. vegetarian, vegan, etc.)

 -  Trying to lose weight in last 3 months

 -  Prescription medications related to heart disease or type 2 diabetes

 -  Fear of needles