A vegetarian dietary pattern is linked to a more favorable profile of metabolic risk factors and a lower risk for metabolic syndrome, even after adjustment for lifestyle and demographic factors, according to a cross-sectional analysis of results from the Adventist Health Study 2 reported online March 16 in Diabetes Care. "The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of disorders that are associated with a heightened risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Previous studies have reported associations between major dietary patterns and MetS. However, no agreement is found as to which dietary patterns would confer the lowest risk of MetS." The investigators assessed associations between dietary pattern and metabolic risk factors, including high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels, triglycerides, glucose levels, blood pressure, and waist circumference using analysis of covariance while controlling for pertinent cofactors. They also determined odds ratios (ORs) for metabolic syndrome using logistic regression. Except for HDL cholesterol level, all metabolic risk factors were significantly lower in association with a vegetarian dietary pattern vs a nonvegetarian dietary pattern. The risk of having metabolic syndrome was also lower for the vegetarian dietary pattern. "A vegetarian dietary pattern is associated with a more favorable profile of MRFs [metabolic risk factors] and a lower risk of MetS," the study authors write. "The relationship persists after adjusting for lifestyle and demographic factors, a vegetarian dietary pattern can play a favorable role in lowering the risk of MetS." Diabetes Care. Published online March 16, 2011. Abstract