The Mediterranean lifestyle (MEDLIFE) index and metabolic syndrome in a non-Mediterranean working population.
BACKGROUND & AIMS
The Mediterranean lifestyle (MEDLIFE), as an overall lifestyle pattern, may be associated with a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome. We assessed the association of a validated MEDLIFE index with metabolic syndrome and its components in a non-Mediterranean working population.


METHODS
A cross-sectional analysis was conducted at baseline among 249 US career firefighters in Feeding America's Bravest 2016-2018. The MEDLIFE index consisted of 26 items on food consumption, dietary habits, physical activity, rest, and social interactions that scored 0 or 1 point. Thus, total scores could range from 0 to 26 points. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine the associations across tertiles of MEDLIFE adherence with metabolic syndrome and each of its individual components. Multivariable linear models further assessed each component as a continuous outcome.


RESULTS
The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 17.7%. Participants with higher MEDLIFE adherence (T3: 11-17 points) had 71% lower odds of having metabolic syndrome compared to those with lower MEDLIFE adherence (T1: 2-7 points) (OR = 0.29; 95%CI: 0.10 to 0.90, p for trend = 0.04). Furthermore, significant inverse associations were found for T3 versus T1 on abdominal obesity (OR = 0.42; 95%CI: 0.18 to 0.99, p for trend = 0.07) and hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 0.24; 95%CI: 0.09 to 0.63, p for trend = 0.002). Significant inverse associations for continuous outcomes included total-cholesterol (total-c), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and total-c:high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (p for trend <0.05).


CONCLUSION
Higher adherence to traditional Mediterranean lifestyle habits, as measured by a comprehensive MEDLIFE index, was associated with a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome and a more favorable cardiometabolic profile in a non-Mediterranean working population. Future studies employing the MEDLIFE index in other populations are warranted to support this hypothesis.
['Hershey|Maria S|MS|', 'Sotos-Prieto|Mercedes|M|', 'Ruiz-Canela|Miguel|M|', 'Christophi|Costas A|CA|', 'Moffatt|Steven|S|', 'Martínez-González|Miguel Ángel|MÁ|', 'Kales|Stefanos N|SN|']
D000328:Adult D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D038441:Diet, Mediterranean D015444:Exercise D005247:Feeding Behavior D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008019:Life Style D008297:Male D024821:Metabolic Syndrome D008875:Middle Aged D012307:Risk Factors D012890:Sleep D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Lifestyle Metabolic syndrome Cardiovascular disease Mediterranean diet Type 2 diabetes mellitus