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Nutritional Epidemiology

Dietary Patterns Are Associated with Metabolic Syndrome in Adult Samoans^1,2

³ Department of Community Health, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912; ⁴ University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655; ⁵ Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115; ⁶ Ministry of Health, Government of Samoa, Apia, Samoa; and ⁷ Department of Health, American Samoa Government, Pago Pago 96799, American Samoa

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome has reached epidemic levels in the Samoan Islands. In this cross-sectional study conducted in 2002–2003, dietary patterns were described among American Samoan (n = 723) and Samoan (n = 785) adults (18 y) to identify neo-traditional and modern eating patterns and to relate these patterns to the presence of metabolic syndrome using Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. The neo-traditional dietary pattern, similar across both polities, was characterized by high intake of local foods, including crab/lobster, coconut products, and taro, and low intake of processed foods, including potato chips and soda. The modern pattern, also similar across both polities, was characterized by high intake of processed foods such as rice, potato chips, cake, and pancakes and low intake of local foods. The neo-traditional dietary pattern was associated with significantly higher serum HDL-cholesterol in American Samoa (P-trend = 0.05) and a decrease in abdominal circumference in American Samoa and Samoa (P-trend = 0.004 and 0.01, respectively). An inverse association was found with metabolic syndrome, although it did not reach significance (P = 0.23 in American Samoa; P = 0.13 in Samoa). The modern pattern was significantly positively associated with metabolic syndrome in Samoa (prevalence ratio = 1.21 for the fifth compared with first quintile; 95% CI: 0.93.1.57; P-trend = 0.05) and with increased serum triglyceride levels in both polities (P < 0.05). Reduced intake of processed foods high in refined grains and adherence to a neo-traditional eating pattern characterized by plant-based fiber, seafood, and coconut products may help to prevent growth in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the Samoan islands.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: stephen_mcgarvey{at}brown.edu.

Manuscript received 27 March 2009. Initial review completed 5 May 2009. Revision accepted 21 July 2009.

Published online 26 August 2009.