Metabolic Syndrome:

Clinical & Nutritional

Implications
Tahja Miller
NMS Health Care- Long Term Care
Howard University

Objectives
Explain the signs of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS)
and other factors that greatly influence MetS
prevalence.
Explore nutritional assessment markers that can
be taken to diagnose MetS.
Expand on how MetS nutritional therapies can be
applied to change health risk.

Table of Contents
What is Metabolic Syndrome
Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in the United
States
Criteria to Diagnose Metabolic Syndrome

Visceral Obesity
Insulin Resistance
Low- HDL Cholesterol
High Triglycerides
Hypertension

Table of Contents
Nutritional Implications
Assessment
Intervention
Monitoring & Evaluations

Questions
References

What is Metabolic
Syndrome (MetS)
A cluster of health conditions that can contribute to an
increased risk of an individual developing type 2
diabetes and cardiovascular illness.

Prevalence of Metabolic
Syndrome (MetS)
According to the Journal of the American Medical
Association (JAMA) about 35 percent of all United
States adults and 50 percent of those 60 years and
older were estimated to have metabolic syndrome
in 2011-2012.
Nearly 100 million people have MetS in the United
States
Preventable Disease- lifestyle changes

Criteria To Diagnose MetS

According to the American Heart Association, as
having 3 or more of the following:
waist circumference greater than 102 cm in men or greater
than 88 cm in women;
serum level of triglycerides of 150 mg/dL or greater;
high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level of less
than 40 mg/dL in men or less than 50 mg/dL in women;
systolic/diastolic blood pressure of 130/85 mm Hg or
greater or taking hypertension medications;
or fasting plasma glucose level of 100 mg/dL or greater or
taking diabetes mellitus medications.
Diagnoses an individual with Metabolic Syndrome (MetS)

Visceral Obesity
a waistline that measures at least 35 inches (89
centimeters) for women and 40 inches (102
centimeters) for men.

Insulin Resistance
Fasting blood glucose level of 100 mg/dL or
above, or taking medication for elevated
blood glucose

Low- HDL Cholesterol

Reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol less
than 40 mg/dL (1.04 mmol/L) in men or less than 50 mg/dL
(1.3 mmol/L) in women of this "good" cholesterol.

High Triglycerides
150 milligrams per deciliter,(mg/dL), or 1.7
millimoles per liter (mmol/L), or higher of this type
of fat found in blood

Hypertension
Increased blood pressure/ Hypertension 130/85
millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or higher.

Nutritional Implications:
Screening
Nutritional History
Appetite
Nausea/Vomiting (> 3 days)
Diarrhea
Dysphagia
Reduced Food Intake
Serum Albumin

Nutritional Implications:
Assessment
Clinical/ History
Height
Current Weight & Usual
Body Weight
BMI
Diet History
Waist Circumference
Waist-to-Hip Ratio
BP
Bioelectrical Impedance
Analysis

Laboratory Work/ Values

Glucose
A1c
HDL Cholesterol
LDL Cholesterol
Triglycerides
Sodium
Serum Insulin
CRP

Nutritional Implications:
Intervention
Goals:
Improve body weight by sticking to a well
balanced diet
Promote physical activity
Achieve and maintain Cholesterol, Blood
Glucose, and BP levels

Nutritional Implications:
Intervention
Improve body weight by sticking to a well
balanced diet
Low intake of saturated fats, trans fats, and
cholesterol
Increase omega-3
Mediterranean-like diet (increase fiber, starches,
whole grains, vegetables, and nuts)
DASH-like diet
Dietary intake of folate and vitamins B6, B12, C,
and E
Carbohydrate restriction
Small frequent meals

Nutritional Implications: Intervention

Nutritional Implications: Intervention

Promote physical activity

Nutritional Implications:
Intervention
Achieve and maintain Cholesterol, Blood Glucose,
and BP levels
Dyslipidemia: reduce LDL level over other lipid panels
first
BP >120/80: weight control, increase physical activity,
sodium reduction, emphasize fresh fruits, vegetables, &
low fat dairy
BP >130/80 or >140/90: blood pressure medication
High Glucose: weight loss, increase physical activity, or
medication if necessary

Nutritional Implications:
Monitor & Evaluation
Food- Drug Interactions
Medications that lower glucose (e.g..
metformin)
Antihypertensive drugs: monitor sodium
and potassium
Statins: inflammation; coenzyme Q10
needs supplementation

Nutritional Implications:
Monitor & Evaluation
Nutrition Education, Counseling, &
Care Management
Maintain optimal diet (Mediterranean or
DASH)
Reduce sedentary activities
Limit consumption of alcohol beverages
Regular physical activity

References

Mayo Clinic (2011) Type two diabetes, risk factors.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/type-2diabetes/DS00585/DSECTION=risk-factors - References - Scientific
Research Publish. (n.d.). Retrieved April 24, 2016, from
http://www.scirp.org/reference/ReferencesPapers.aspx?ReferenceI
D=1052181
Population estimates, July 1, 2015, (V2015). (n.d.). Retrieved April
24, 2016, from http://www.census.gov/quickfacts
Search & Browse. (n.d.). Retrieved April 24, 2016, from
http://minority-health.pitt.edu/view/subjects/research.html