Dietary fiber and nutrient density are inversely associated with the metabolic syndrome in US adolescents.

A decline in metabolic syndrome risk is associated with frequent consumption of diets rich in plant foods with high fiber content.

This study investigated the relationship between the intake of high-fiber diets and the risk of developing metabolic syndrome among adolescents. Researchers tracked the metabolic syndrome incidence and the diets of 2,128 boys and girls within the age bracket of 12-19 years.

The research team observed that a significant reduction in the risk of metabolic syndrome among adolescents in the study population who regularly consumed foods rich in fiber. In contrast, no significant association was found between the consumption of diets low in saturated fats and cholesterol and metabolic syndrome risk in this study. The results of this study support recommendations that encourage the addition of more fiber-rich plant foods to a diet to help reduce the incidence of metabolic syndrome in the general population.